Mcgeoch and Mcdonald

• McGeoch and McDonald


  Researchers who aimed to see the effect of a second activity during encoding on the accuracy of memories
• Study procedureof mcgeoch and mcdonald

  1. 12 participants were shown lists of 10 words varying from synonyms, antonyms, words unrelated to the original ones, consonant syllables and three-digit numbers

  2. Participants had to remember the words with 100% accuracy before being shown a new list
• The more similar pieces of information you must recall, the less you remember
• Memory is more affected by a second list when the activity is like the one you did before
• Interference is at its strongest when the activity is like the one you did before
• Strengths of the studyof mcgeoch and mcdonald

  • Techniques used were counterbalancing to ensure unbiasedness, giving different lists to all
  • The theory of interference includes validity due to the supported research
• Weaknesses of the studymcgeoch and mcdonald

  • It lacked mundane realism as recalling lists is an artificial task and does not reflect how we use memory in our daily lives
  • Interference is just an explanation
• Types of interference

  • Proactive
  • Retroactive
• Proactive interference

  Old information gets mixed with the new
• Retroactive interference

  New information gets mixed with the old