Explanations for forgetting - interference

• what is interference

  forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
• what is proactive interference


  • this is when old memories interfere with a new one.
  • for example you are trying to remember your new phone number but all you can remember is your old one.
• what Is retroactive interference


  this is when new memories interfere with old ones. for example you are trying to remember your old phone number but you can't because all you remember is your new one.
• who did research into effects of similarity

  • McGeoch and McDonald.
  • ppts had to learn a list of 10 words until they could recall it 100% accurately
  • most similar to original test = worst recall
• lab studies


  • most research into interference is done in a lab study.
  • they can control for extraneous and confounding variables
• artificial tasks


  • the tasks used in research is normally recalling a list of words.
  • this is useful in some cases but in real life we normally try to remember people faces and birthdays not a random list of words.
  • giving this low ecological validity
• support from real life studies- Baddeley + Hitch

  • Baddeley and Hitch - rugby players remember teams played in season
  • recall didn't depend on time passed but on games played since
  • showing we can apply interference to real life situations