interference

• 2 types of interference

  • proactive interference
  • retroactive interference
• proactive interference is when older memory interferes with new memory
• retroactive interference is when newer memory interferes with older memory
• key study - postman and underwood

  • looked at how retroactive interference affects learning (newer interferening older)
  • lab experiment were ptts had to recall list of paired words from list A and list B
  • experimental group given another list to remember - list C
  • all ptts asked to recall list A
  • found recall of control group was more accurate
  • words from second list interfered with ability to recall first list - supporting retroactive interference
• key study - mcgeoch and mcdonald

  • how similarity affected interference by changing amount of similarity between 2 sets of material
  • ptts learnt list of 10 words until 100% accuracy - then learnt new list
  • depending on group - ptts had to learn different types of lists (synonyms, 3 digit numbers, no new list)
  • asked to recall - ptts performance depended on second list given
  • more similar material the worse ptts performed - shows interference is strongest when memories are similar
• key study - baddeley and hitch

  • asked rugby players to remember names of teams played in seasons so far
  • some players had missed games so hadn't played for 2-3 weeks
  • found accurate recall did not depend on how long ago matches were but whether player had played games
  • recall for team from 3 weeks ago was better when players had not played a match since (no new info interfering with old)
• evaluation - interference being explan for forgetting - lab studies (+)

  • research into interference includes thousands of lab experiments that demonstrate interference in memory
  • most studies show both types of interference are likely to be ways we form info from LTM
  • highlights significance of lab studies as consistently show same findings
  • lab experiments also control extraneous variables allowing study to be replicated
  • CONTRADICTORY - lab studies have low ecological validity as they are artificial - limits application
• evaluation - interference as explan for forgetting - artificial materials (-)

  • materials used with experiments tend to take place in lab setting where there is greater chance of interference being demonstrated than real life situations
  • stimulus used in most studies were lists of words - different to what is needed for normal living
  • possible interference as explanation of forgetting in daily life is not as strong as explanation for forgetting in lab study
  • weakens reliability of findings collected
• evaluation - interference as explan for forgetting - individual differences

  • individual differences can affect the outcomes of this study
  • researchers demonstrated those with greater working memory span were less likely to have proactive interference (old interferes with new memory)
  • tested by giving 3 ptts word lists to learn - those with low WM span showed greater proactive interference when recalling second and third list
  • suggests having greater WM span meant having greater resources to consciously control processing and counteract effects of proactive interference