Second half of Memory topic

Second half of Memory topic

1. Explanations for forgetting

   • Interference
     • Proactive
       • Old memory interfering with a new one
     • Retroactive
       • A new memory interfering with an old one
     • Effects of similarity
       • McGeogh and McDonald - different word lists study
         • The similar the information (synonyms), the worse the recall. Therefore, similar memories cause interference to increase
     • Baddeley and Hitch (1977) - Rugby players study
       • Accurate recall didn't depend on how long ago the matches took place but how many matches were played since.
   • Retrieval failure
     • 3 types of cues:
       • Context dependent
         • Godden and Baddeley - divers study
         • Baddeley argues that the context effects on forgetting are only strong when the environment changes drastically.
       • State dependent
         • Carter and Cassaday - anti-histamine drugs study
           • There was worse recall if it happened in a different state to the one in which the information was learned.
       • Meaningful links
         • E.g. hearing STM will help you remember information about short term memory

2. Factors affecting eye-witness testimony (EWT)

   • Misleading information
     • Leading questions
       • Loftus and Palmer (1974) - speed of cars study
         • Following study by them investigated the substitution explanation. The participants who heard 'smashed' were asked if they saw broken glass and their memory was altered and most said that they did.
         • Artificial as participants watched videos instead of experiencing seeing a car crash in real life
       • Response bias explanation explains that leading questions don't alter memories but how we decide to answer questions.
     • Post event discussion
       • Gabbert et al (2003) - recalling what the participants saw after watching a video from different perspectives and after PED study
   • Anxiety
     • Negative effect on recall
       • Anxiety creates physiological arousal in the body and stops us paying attention to cues
       • Johnson and Scott (1976) - waiting room study
         • Tunnel theory of memory argues that witness' attention focuses on the weapon because it is the cause of anxiety
     • Positive effect on recall
       • Fight-or-flight response can be triggered in us when we experience something which creates anxiety. This improves our memory as our alertness increases.
       • Yuille and Cutshall
         • Study of a real life shooting in a gun shop in Canada. Participants had a police interview after the incident and 4-5 months later an interview with the psychologist.
           • Participants' accounts were still accurate after the few months but some details such as colour of clothing etc... were distorted a bit
         • Studied the effects of how far away from the shooting the witnesses were.

3. The Cognitive Interview

   • 1. Report everything
     • 2. Reinstate the context
       • 3. Reverse the order
         • 4. Change perspective
   • Time consuming
   • Training required for interviewers
   • Better than standard police interview
   • Enables witnesses to provide more accurate information