Explanations for forgetting interference:

• What is interference theory?

  • Forgetting (mainly in LTM) happens because we can't access memories even though they are available
  • Interference between memories makes it harder for us to locate them, this is experienced as forgetting
  • One memory blocks another causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
• What are the different types of interference?

  • Likely that the two or more memories that are interfering with each other were stored at different times

  1. proactive interference (PI): when a person is trying to learn or recall a new memory while the old memory keeps interfering. Old stops new
  2. Retroactive interference (RI): when new memories interfere with trying to remember old memories or information. New stops old
• What is the McGeoch and McDonald procedure?

  Participants had to learn a set of words to 100% accuracy (could recall them perfectly.) Then given a new set of words to remember:

  1. Synonyms (same meaning)
  2. Antonyms (opposite meaning)
  3. Unrelated
  4. Consonant syllables
  5. Three digit number
  6. Nothing (control conditon)
• What were McGeoch and McDonald's findings and conclusions?

  • McGeoch and McDonald found most similar material produced the worst recall
  • They concluded that in group 1 it is likely synonyms blocked access OR new material was confused with old. This shows that interference is strongest when the memories are similar.
• Evaluation: real world evidence

  P- One strength of interference as an explanation for forgetting is that there is support from real-world situations

  E- Baddeley and Hitch asked rugby players to recall the teams they had played against. All players played for a season, but some missed matches

  E- Players who played most games (thus had the most interference) had poorest recall

  L- This shows that interference operates in some everyday situations, increasing the validity of the theory.
• What may cause some forgetting in everyday situations?

  Interference
• Why is interference considered unusual in everyday situations?

  Conditions for interference are relatively rare
• How do real-life situations differ from lab studies regarding interference?

  Lab studies have high control creating ideal conditions
• What must happen for two memories to interfere with each other?

  They must be fairly similar
• How often does memory interference occur in everyday life?

  Not often
• What does the evaluation suggest about most forgetting?

  It may be better explained by retrieval failure
• What is a possible reason for retrieval failure mentioned in the evaluation?

  Lack of cues
• What are the key points of the counterpoint evaluation on real-world evidence regarding forgetting?

  • Interference may cause forgetting but is unusual.
  • Conditions for interference are rare in real life.
  • Lab studies create ideal conditions for interference.
  • Similarity between memories is necessary for interference.
  • Most forgetting may be explained by retrieval failure.
  • Retrieval failure can occur due to lack of cues.
• Evaluation: interference and cues

  P- One weakness of interference as an explanation for forgetting is that it is temporary and can be overcome using cues

  E- Tulving and Psotka gave participants words in categories (but did not tell them what the categories were)

  E- Recall average 70% for first list but worse after each list (PI). Then participants were told to the list of the categories and recall rose again to 70%

  L- So PI causes a temporary loss of accessibility to material that is still in LTM.
• What is one strength of interference as an explanation for forgetting?

  Support from drug studies
• What did Coenen and Van Luijtelaar ask participants to do in their study?

  Recall a list of words
• What was the effect of diazepam on word recall in the study?

  Better recall than the placebo group
• How long after taking diazepam was the recall tested?

  One week later
• What did the drug diazepam prevent in terms of memory processing?

  New information reaching memory processing areas
• How does the study's findings relate to the concept of interference in forgetting?

  Reducing interference reduced forgetting
• What are the implications of the drug studies on forgetting due to interference?

  • Support for interference theory
  • Suggests reducing interference can improve recall
  • Highlights the role of drugs in memory processing
• Evaluation: validity issues

  P- One issue with interference as an explanation for forgetting is that the research supporting the explanation lacks mundane realism

  E- Most studies are lab based, an advantage as all variables are controlled

  E- People rarely learn learn material in this artificial & contrived manner. learnt lists are likely to have meaning e.g. shopping list

  L- Therefore, findings cannot be safely generalised to explain forgetting beyond the study.