Interference vs. Decay Demonstration Langston, Cognitive Psychology
Instructions You are going to see lists of numbers. Pay attention to the numbers and try to remember them. When a list ends, you will be told a target item. Write down the number that came after the target item.
Instructions We’ll practice…
8
6
2
7
5
***END OF LIST*** 6
Distance = 3 (answer = 2)
Get ready!
9
8
1
4
3
5
7
6
2
***END OF LIST*** 3
Distance = 4 (answer = 5)
Get ready!
6
9
2
7
5
8
3
4
1
***END OF LIST*** 2
Distance = 6 (answer = 7)
Get ready!
6
9
8
3
1
7
4
2
5
***END OF LIST*** 2
Distance = 2 (answer = 0)
Get ready!
2
8
5
4
3
1
7
6
9
***END OF LIST*** 4
Distance = 6 (answer = 3)
Get ready!
3
2
5
6
8
4
9
1
7
***END OF LIST*** 0
Distance = 2 (answer = 1)
Get ready!
4
1
2
7
8
9
6
3
5
***END OF LIST*** 8
Distance = 4 (answer = 9)
Discussion How does the manipulation affect your ability to recall the digits? Distance from the end of the list (amount)? Rate?
Discussion Waugh & Norman (1965): Individual data. Note how much more distance is affecting the results. Waugh & Norman (1965, p. 91)
Discussion Waugh & Norman (1965): Collapsed data. “…it is clear that the effect of rate is relatively small compared to the effect of serial position” (p. 91). Waugh & Norman (1965, p. 91)
End Interference vs. Decay Demonstration