Interference

• INTERFERENCE - memory blocks another memory, distorted or forgotten
• PROACTIVE - older memories disrupt the recall of newer memories
• RETROACTIVE - newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories
• EFFECT OF SIMILARITY

  • John McGeoch & Wiliam McDonald 1931
  • easiest was when there was no change to the list
  • hardest was synonyms, followed by antonyms
• P - methodology McGeoch & McDonald

  E - standardised tests, controlled setting,

  can be replicated many times

  C- reliable + internal validity

  - importance for interference as reason for forgetting
• P - interference may not be only reason

  E - Bahrick study into duration

  forgetting may be due to decay & retrevial failure

  - Godden & Baddeley / Cassaday & Carter

  C- does not provide a complete explanation, LTM
• P - methodological criticism

  E - lab experiment

  artificial environment & stimuli

  unlikely to have to remember 2 lists in everyday life

  C- lack ecological validity

  -lack mundane realism

  -cannot generalise

  -lowers the usefulness of interference as a reason for forgetting
• P - supporting evidence

  McGeoch & McDonald

  E - lab experiment

  -learn 10 words for LTM

  -split into 6 groups

  -learn a second list and recall first list

  C- those who learned similar words performed worse

  -important for reason for forgetting
• P - lack external validity

  methodological criticism

  E - limited amount of time

  unlike real life memory task such as revision

  C - limited time

  lacks mundane validity

  - lowers the usefulness of the interference as the reason for forgetting