Forgetting

Forgetting

1. Explanations for Forgetting

   • Interference Theory
     • Proactive Interference
       • Old information interferes with the recall of new information
         • Trying to learn a new phone number when you still remember the old one
     • Retroactive Interference
       • New information interferes with the recall of old info
         • Trying to remember an old postcode when you now know your new one
       • Schmidt (2000)
         • Asked PPs aged 11-67 to recall road names around their old school. Compared results against how many times they had moved. Positive correlation. Higher errors = higher times moved.
           • However plenty of extraneous variables that may have affected results. ie walking to school or car?
           • Real life situation. Mundane Realism.
     • Baddely and Hitch
       • Rugby players asked to recall names of teams played against. Found number of games played affected memory rather than time.
         • Favours interference theory over time decay theory
     • Evaluation
       • Only really explains forgetting when two sets of information are similar. Cannot be easily applied to everyday situations
       • Most research into Interference Theory has been in lab experiments. Therefore lack mundane realism and chance of demand charecteristics
   • Encoding Specific Theory
     • Context Dependent Cue
       • Environment
         • Godden and Baddeley (1975)
           • Dry and wet recall and learn using scuba divers
             • Better recall when contextual cue present
     • State Dependent Cue
       • Internal feelings ie Emotions
         • Overton (1972)
           • Sober and Drunk learning and recall
             • Better recall when state dependent cue present
     • Tulving and Pearlstone (1966)
       • Free recall of words = 40% correct Cued recall of words= 60% correct
     • Evaluation
       • Studies supporting cue theory have been done in lab setting therefore not totally applicable to everyday memory tasks
       • Godden & Baddely only tested free recall. When ask to say whether or not an item was on the list they had previously remembered the contect based cue had no effect suggesting that cue dependency cannot explain all types of forgetting.
       • The more deeply processed information will provide more cues for remembering. Therefore it is hard to say that cue dependent theory can explain all types of forgetting