Question

Had you been given a task to do in between viewing the information and recall (such as counting backwards from 10), how would this have affected your ability to recall correctly? Explain why.

Answer 1

Counting backwards between viewing information and recalling it hinders memory consolidation and recall due to cognitive resource competition and potential retroactive interference.

Step-by-step explanation:

Performing a task like counting backwards in between viewing information and recalling it can significantly affect memory recall. This is because the interposed activity acts as an interference which disrupts the consolidation of memories. The process of transferring information from short-term to long-term memory requires attention and time; when a task like counting backwards is introduced, it demands cognitive resources that would otherwise be dedicated to memory encoding. This impact on recall is well-documented in cognitive psychology and is related to concepts such as interference theory and attentional resources.

For instance, McCarrell's 1974 study involves writing sentences, looking away, and then counting backwards before trying to recall those sentences. This activity is likely to result in poorer recall because the counting task competes with the consolidation of the sentences into memory. Similarly, recalling items in reverse order or spelling words backwards are methods used to test memory while avoiding interference from well-learned sequences.

Overall, engaging in a simultaneous or interposed task, particularly one that involves a considerable cognitive load, decreases the likelihood of accurate recall as it hinders the encoding process and potentially introduces retroactive interference, where new information interferes with the recall of information learned previously.