Interference

Interference

1. DEFINITION

   • refers to the process whereby one memory disrupts the ability to recall a different memory

2. RETROACTIVE INTEREFERENCE

   • Where new learning interferes with ability to remember previous information
   • Identified by Georg Muller
     • one of the founders of psychology
   • Muller and Pilzecker 1900
     • carried out a study to impact of intervening tasks on ability to recall information
     • Asked participants to learn list of nonsense syllables for 6 minutes
       • after retention interval, were asked to recall lists
       • during retention time some were asked to complete a second task
         • had to describe pictures of landscape
     • Found performance was reduced for those who had carried out the intervening task than those who didn't

3. Proactive Interference

   • where previous learning interferes with new learning
   • Underwood 1957
     • demonstrated the effects of PI in a meta-analysis of studies were asked to learn lists of words
     • found that if participants had to memorise 10 lists or more, after a gap of 24 hours they approx remembered 20% of information
     • if they remembered 1 list they approx remembered 70%
     • Concluded that the more lists that a person has to remember the worst their overall recall

4. psychological research suggests that the extent to which interference takes place can be lesser or greater depending on the type of task or memory