An experiment to investigate the effect of interference on memory recall

Authors Avatar

TITLE:

An experiment to investigate the effect interference has on Memory Recall.

Alice Foster                        Coursework

        

Aim:                To determine the effect that interference will have on

Memory recall.

Hypothesis:        Interference will cause an effect on memory recall.

IV:                Interference

DV:                Successful Memory Recall


Introduction

What is memory?  Cara Flanagan (97) gives the following definitions of memory,

  • The mental function of retaining data i.e. learning.
  • The storage system which holds the data.
  • The data that is retained.

We use our memory all the time without even realising it.  We remember how to read, write, open doors, shut doors etc, for normal every day things.

In order for us to remember information, memory goes through 3 stages:

  • Encoding
  • Storage
  • Retrieval

Encoding is how we store information into our memories and can be done in 3 forms: -

  • Visual – You see the image you are trying to recall
  • Acoustic – You hear the information in your mind
  • Semantic – You understand and remember the meaning of information stored

Storage is the information that we have encoded, in our minds, until we need it.  Retrieval is when we use the information that we have encoded and stored.

There are 3 main theories to explain Memory.  Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin (1968) proposed the Multi-Store Model.  They suggested that memory was a series of processes.

Sensory memory is where information is stored for a few seconds, until it is encoded.  If information is not encoded it will fade from the sensory memory.  If it has been encoded it will pass into Short-Term memory (STM).  STM can only store between 5 and 9 pieces of information (7 is a ‘magic’ number i.e. +2  or  -2).  If information stored in short-term memory is rehearsed it will pass into Long-Term Memory (LTM).  If not, it will fade from STM, very quickly.  Long-Term Memory is where we store information that has been rehearsed or repeated.  LTM has unlimited capacity.

The Multi-Store model describes memory being stored in processes i.e. a, then b, then c etc.  It is a very mechanical way of working.

L Peterson & M Peterson (1959) carried out tests to see how long we can store information in our STM.  Their participants were given trigrams (such as XPJ, AKM) and were asked to count backwards, aloud, in 3’s.  As they could not repeat or rehearse the information, it faded from STM.  

B Murdock (1962) carried out ‘Free recall’ experiments.  He called out a number of words and asked the participant to try to remember the words, in whatever order they could manage.  The results of this showed the Recency effect and the Primacy effect.  Geoffrey Shoesmith (04) defines the Recency effect by stating, “…when participants are manipulated into concentrating attention on later information about a person, they are more likely to remember that later impression – this referred to as the Recency effect.”  Cara Flanagan (97), defines the Primacy effect by stating “The tendency for first received information to dominate subsequent impressions.”

The participant firstly recalled the words that were called out last (the Recency effect).  B Woods (04) states, “This is evidence that the last few words were still stored in Short-term memory.  The words that were called out first were also recalled (The Primacy effect).  As the participant was able to rehearse these words, they were stored in L.T. M.

Join now!

Another explanation of memory is the Level’s of Processing Model.  This model proposes that the deeper we process the information; the more likely we are to retain it.  It talks about 3 different levels of processing –

  • Structural level         (Appearance)
  • Phonetic level        (Sound)
  • Semantic level        (Meaning)

Craik and Lockhart (1972) tested this and found that there was more information processed at semantic level than acoustic level and that information processed at structural level was remembered least.  This theory also discussed elaboration and how if we elaborate on information we will retain it better (Semantic level), a deeper process.

...

This is a preview of the whole essay