2.5 Interference - Explanations for Forgetting

2.5 Interference - Explanations for Forgetting

1. Proactive Interference

   • Where old learning interferes with a new one. e.g teacher has difficulty remembering the names of students in her current class.

2. Retroactive Interference

   • New learning prevents recall of previously learned information. e.g teacher forgets names of past students.

3. McGeoch and McDonald (1931)

   • Procedure: Studied retroactive interference by changing the similarity between sets of material. Participants had to learn words until they knew it with 100% accuracy then learnt a new list.
   • Group 1: Synonyms. Group 2: Antonyms. Group 3: unrelated words. Group 4. Consonant syllables. Group 5. 3 digit numbers. Group 6. no new list
   • Findings: When asked to recall, the most similar material produced the worst recall. Interference is strongest when memories are similar.

4. Evaluation

   • Strengths:
     • Real world interference. Baddeley and Hitch asked rugby players to recall who they had played against in the rugby season. Those that had played the most games came out with the worst recall.
     • Support from drug studies. Gave participants a list of words, found that when it was learned under the influence of diazepam recall was poor. But when learned before the drug was taken, recall was better than placebo.
   • Weaknesses:
     • Interference and cues. Interference is temporary and can be overcome with cues and hints.