Mcgeoch and mcdonald

• Who conducted the study on retroactive forgetting and similarity?

  McGeoch and McDonald
• What was the aim of McGeoch and McDonald's study?

  To investigate retroactive interference effects
• What was the procedure of the study conducted by McGeoch and McDonald?

  • Participants learned List A (10 words) to 100% accuracy
  • Divided into six groups learning different List B:
  • Synonyms (most similar)
  • Antonyms
  • Unrelated words
  • Nonsense syllables
  • Three-digit numbers (least similar)
  • Control group (no List B)
  • All groups recalled List A
• What was the worst recall of List A associated with?

  Learning synonyms as List B
• How did recall of List A change with the similarity of List B?

  Recall improved as similarity decreased
• Which group showed the best recall of List A?

  The control group (no List B)
• What conclusion did McGeoch and McDonald draw from their study?

  Retroactive interference significantly causes forgetting
• What are the strengths of McGeoch and McDonald's study?

  • High control in a lab experiment
  • Strong empirical support for interference
  • Standardized procedure ensures replicability
• What are the weaknesses of McGeoch and McDonald's study?

  • Low ecological validity due to artificial tasks
  • Lacks mundane realism in learning context
  • Potential demand characteristics from participants
• What contribution did McGeoch and McDonald's study make to the understanding of forgetting?

  It showed forgetting is caused by new learning
• What type of interference does McGeoch and McDonald's study focus on?

  Retroactive interference
• What was the least similar List B used in the study?

  Three-digit numbers
• What does the term "mundane realism" refer to in the context of the study's weaknesses?

  How closely tasks reflect real-life situations
• How does the study's design help in establishing internal validity?

  By reducing extraneous variables through control