Interference

• Define the term forgetting-

  -The inability to recall or recognise something that been previously learned

  -Forgetting is often explained in trace decay
• Define the term trace decay-

  -Memory code created in brain disappears
• Define the term interference-

  -Explanation for forgetting in terms of one memory disrupting ability to recall another. Most likely to occur when 2 memories have similarity
• Define the term proactive interference-

  -When previously learned information interferes with new information you are trying to store
• An example of proactive interference-

  -After moving house saying your old address instead of your new address
• Proactive interference -

  -Underwood (1957) looked at the impact of proactive interference.

  -He analysed the findings from several studies and concluded that when ppts had to learn series of words lists, they do less well on word lists encountered later

  -They remember more of lists encountered early on
• What are the findings of Underwoods research?-

  -If participants learn 10 or more lists, after 24 hours they remembered about 20% of everything they had learned

  -If they had only learned 1 list initially recall was over 70%
• Define the term retroactive interference -

  -This is when newly learnt information gets mixed up with old information
• Example of retroactive interference-

  -When filling in a passport application you must right your previous address so you put your new address instead of an old address
• Retroactive interference-

  -Muller was first to identify retroactive interference

  -Gave participants list of nonsense syllables to learn for 6 minutes

  -Then asked to recall words after retention interval

  -Performance was less good if participants had to do another task between initial learning and recall

  -Were shown 3 landscape paintings and asked describe them

  -Task interfered with info that had been previously learned
• Strength - McGeoch and McDonald

  -They experimented the effects of similarity of materials

  -The ppts learned list A had a 10 minute resting interval and then learned list B

  -Condition 1 list A and list B- 12% recall

  -Condition 2 list A and B - 26% recall

  -Condition 3 list A and B- 37% recall

  -This shows more similar the stimuli the greater the interference
• Strength - Baddeley and Hitch

  -Wanted to investigate a real world scenario (high ecological validity) for forgetting

  -Rugby players at end of season had to recall names of all teams played against, some played all season others missed due to injury

  -If decay theory was correct then all players should recall a percentage

  -Interference would predict more games played the worse recall which is what they found
• Strength- Danaher

  -Tested the recognition and recall of advertising messages

  -Found when ppts had been exposed to competing brands within a week, recall was reduced

  -In order to strengthen memory traces, he recommended multiple exposures to a campaign in one day rather than spread them over a week

  -This would reduce interference from competing brands
• Weakness - Anderson

  -However, he concluded that there is no doubt that interference plays a role in forgetting but how much forgetting can be attributed to interference remains unclear
• Weakness - People less affected by proactive interference than others

  -Evidence that some people are less affected by proactive interference than others

  -Kane and Eagle demonstrated that individuals with greater working memory span were less susceptible to proactive interference.

  -Ppts had to learn 3 lists of words.

  -Those ppts with low working memory spans showed greater proactive interference when recalling the second and third list then ppts did with higher spans