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Summary Explanations for forgetting - Interference
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Looks at the interference explanations of forgetting including definitions of keywords as well as key studies.
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Explanations for forgetting: InterferenceMemory
Key Names
John McGeoch and William McDonald (1931)
Key Words
Interference –
Interference Theory
Forgetting because
one memory blocks Interference occurs when two pieces of information conflict with each other, resulting in forgetting of one
another, causing one or both, or some distortion of memory. This is proposed for forgetting mainly in long-term memory.
or both memories to Forgetting in the LTM likely occurs because we can not access the memory rather than that it is not
be distorted or available. Interference may make memories harder to locate, which is experienced as forgetting. There
forgotten. are two types of interference, proactive and retroactive.
Proactive McGeoch and McDonald (1931)
Interference – Procedure – Studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of
Forgetting occurs materials. Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100%
when older memories, accuracy. They then learned another list of words. Six different groups had different types of lists.
already stored, disrupt Group 1 – Synonyms
the recall of newer Group 2 – Antonyms
memories. The Group 3 – Unrelated
Group 4 – Consonant syllables
degree of forgetting is
Group 5 – 3-digit numbers
greater when the Group 6 – Just rested, no new list
memories are similar. Findings – The synonyms group showed the worst levels of recall of the original list, showing that
interference is strongest when memories are similar
Retroactive
Interference –
Forgetting occurs Evaluation
when newer Evidence from lab studies – Thousands of lab experiments have been carried out into this explanatio
memories disrupt the of forgetting. Most of these studies show that both types of interference are very likely to be commo
recall of older ways we forget information from the LTM. This shows that interference is likely a valid explanation fo
memories already some forgetting.
stored. The degree of Artificial materials – The stimulus materials used in most studies are a list of words, which is likely mor
forgetting is greater realistic that learning consonant syllables. Still, these lists of words are different from the kinds of things
when the memories that we would actively recall in every day life, making the stimuli artificial and the study less valid.
are similar. Real-life studies – Baddeley & Hitch (1977) asked rugby players to try to remember the names of the
teams they had played so far in that season. Because most of the players had missed games, for some
the last team that they played might have been two or three weeks ago, maybe more. Results clearly
showed that accurate recall did not depend on how long ago the matches took place but rather the
number games they had played in the meantime, showing that interference can be used to explain some
cases of forgetting in everyday situations.
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