AO1

• Interference is when one memory disrupts the ability to recall another.
• There are two types of interference; retroactive and proactive
• Retroactive interference is when the ability to recall old information is disrupted by new information. For example, remembering the names of old classmates but getting confused with new classmates.
• Proactive interference is when the ability to recall new information is disrupted by old information. For example, calling a new boyfriend by your ex boyfriends name.
• McGeoch and McDonald investigated how the similarity of words acts as interference in recall.
• McGeoch and McDonald

  Method:

  • gave participants a list of 10 words which they had to recall until they had 100% accuracy
  • participants were then given a second list which was either synonyms, antonyms, unrelated words, three digits, consonant syllables or they had no new list.
  • they were then asked to recall the original list
• McGeoch and McDonald: Findings & Conclusion

  • Participants who had synonyms as their second list had worst recall of the original list compared to those who had a different type of second list
  • This suggests that the more similar words are, the higher interference will be.
• Schmidt et al investigated how well former kindergarden students could recall street names in the area they grew up in. They had a range of participants from ages 11-79 and asked them to identify street names on a map, measuring interference by how many times they had moved since graduating. Those who moved the most and had most interference had worst recall.