Final answer:
The correct answer is c) New information interferes with the retrieval of older information, as retroactive interference and the misinformation effect both describe how new information can disrupt the recall of existing memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Retroactive interference and the post-event misinformation effect are concepts in psychology that describe how new information can disrupt the recall of existing information. Retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information inhibits the ability to recall previously learned information. For instance, if you learn about Erikson's theory of psychosocial development after studying Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve, you might struggle to remember Ebbinghaus's work due to the new information about Erikson's theory.
The misinformation effect, studied by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, describes how post-event information can alter a person's memory of the original event. This often happens when people are exposed to misleading information after an event has occurred, which then gets incorporated into their memory of the event. Retroactive interference and the misinformation effect both illustrate how new information can impact our recall of older, previously stored information.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is c) New information interferes with the retrieval of older information.