Mod 3 forgetting interference theory
- 1. Memory: explanations of forgetting • The specification. • Explanations for forgetting: proactive and retroactive interference and retrieval failure due to absence of cues.
- 3. Memory: explanations of forgetting • Forgetting: the loss of the ability to recall something previously learned. • Interference theory: memory is disrupted or obscured by other information.
- 4. Interference theory • If information is stored in LTM it can last for a long time. • We may not forget it but be unable to retrieve it accurately. • One memory may interfere with the retrieval of another memory.
- 5. Interference theory • Proactive interference. • When an old memory interferes with the accurate recall of a new memory. • Retroactive interference. • When a new memory interferes with the accurate recall of an older memory.
- 7. Proactive interference • Your friend gets a new mobile phone with a new number. • You learn the new number. • One day you find yourself using the old number.
- 8. Retroactive interference • Your friend gets a new mobile phone with a new number. • After a while the new number replaces the old number. • The old number is not forgotten. • The new number interferes with the old number.
- 11. Interference theory • One way retroactive interference is researched is by getting participants to learn lists of pairs of words.
- 12. Underwood & Postman (1960)
- 13. Interference theory • Proactive interference: when list A interferes with list B recall. • Retroactive interference: when list B interferes with list A recall.
- 14. Interference theory • Interference is worse when the information that people are trying to retrieve from LTM is similar.
- 15. Interference theory • McGeoch and McDonald gave participants 2 lists of words to learn: some with similar meanings some with different meanings. • Group 1: words with similar meanings. • Group 2 words with different meanings. • Group 1: made more mistakes on a memory recall test.
- 16. Evaluation: strengths • Research support • Lots of carefully controlled lab experiments have found evidence that interference causes forgetting.
- 17. Evaluation: strengths • Real life studies • Psychologists have carried out experiments that use more realistic materials and provide a more realistic test of human memory. • This backs up interference as an explanation for forgetting.
- 18. Evaluation: limitations • Artificial Materials • Lab experiments get participants to learn lists of words. • This is not a realistic test of human memory.