Question 1

Cecil,Tony,and Juan have recently joined the school's marching band and will be playing tubas.Who will most likely have an initially easier time learning to play the tuba?
A) Cecil, who was the bugler at Boy Scout camp this past summer.
B) Tony, who can play the guitar, bass, and piano.
C) Juan, who has never played an instrument.
D) All three will have equal difficulty in learning to play the tuba.

Accepted Answer

Cecil's previous experience as a bugler suggests that he has some knowledge of music and may have some familiarity with brass instruments. This could potentially make it easier for him to learn to play the tuba compared to Tony, who has experience with different instruments, but not necessarily with brass instruments. Juan's lack of experience puts him at a disadvantage in comparison to Cecil and Tony. Therefore, Cecil is most likely to have an initially easier time learning to play the tuba.

Question 2

Learning to balance and ride a bicycle prior to learning to ride a motorcycle is an example of
A) vicarious learning.
B) latent learning.
C) positive transfer.
D) cognitive restructuring.

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer refers to the phenomenon where skills or knowledge learned in one context can help in the learning of a new context. Learning to balance and ride a bicycle requires similar skills as riding a motorcycle, such as balancing on two wheels and steering. Therefore, learning to ride a bicycle can positively transfer to learning to ride a motorcycle.

Question 3

An excellent typist is given a new computer with a keyboard that has the keys arranged on the basis of how frequently the letters are used,as opposed to the standard keyboard arrangement.Until the typist learns this new keyboard,his familiarity with the standard keyboard will result in his being plagued by
A) proactive interference.
B) retroactive interference.
C) sore fingers and a bruised ego.
D) repression.

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when old information interferes with the learning of new information. In this case, the typist's familiarity with the standard keyboard layout interferes with his ability to learn the new keyboard arrangement.

Question 4

If you cram for a psychology exam and then later the same night cram for a history exam,your memory for history will be less accurate because of
A) suppression.
B) redintegration.
C) proactive interference.
D) retroactive interference.

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when older memory makes it harder to remember new information. In this scenario, studying psychology first interferes with the ability to remember the history material studied later.

Question 5

Justin plays drums for a local rock band.When country and western band asks Justin to fill in for their drummer,Justin initially has some difficulty adjusting to this new band's tempo since he is so used to the timing of his own band's "beat." This initial difficulty in adjusting to the new "beat" is best explained by
A) retroactive interference.
B) proactive interference.
C) memory decay.
D) encoding failure.

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to learn new information. In this case, Justin's prior experience with his own band's timing is interfering with his ability to adjust to the new band's tempo.

Question 6

If you cram for a psychology exam and then later the same night cram for a history exam,your memory for psychology will be less accurate because of
A) disuse.
B) memory decay.
C) proactive interference.
D) retroactive interference.

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information interferes with the recall of information learned previously. In this scenario, studying for history after psychology can make it harder to remember the psychology material.

Question 7

You have just studied for a psychology test.Which of the following activities would be the LEAST likely to cause retroactive interference?
A) sleeping.
B) watching television.
C) writing a little on your English paper.
D) studying for an upcoming history test.

Accepted Answer

Sleeping is the least likely to cause retroactive interference because it does not involve new learning that could interfere with the previously studied material. Watching television, writing on an English paper, and studying for a history test all involve the possibility of new information being stored in memory and potentially interfering with the previously studied material.

Question 8

When new learning disrupts the ability to recall past,stored information,which of the following has occurred?
A) proactive interference
B) disinhibition
C) retrograde amnesia
D) retroactive interference

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with the ability to recall old information.

Question 9

A college student should expect to experience the greatest interference while studying which two subjects sequentially?
A) psychology and history
B) analytical geometry and mechanical drawing
C) geology and astronomy
D) French and Spanish word pronunciations

Accepted Answer

Studying French and Spanish word pronunciations sequentially is likely to cause the greatest interference because both languages are similar and involve learning new vocabulary and pronunciation rules, which can easily be confused.

Question 10

Kasey is having trouble learning French because she finds that having learned Spanish earlier makes it more difficult for her to now learn French.This is known as
A) proactive interference.
B) retroactive interference.
C) memory decay.
D) encoding failure.

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the recall of newly learned information. In this case, Kasey's prior knowledge of Spanish is interfering with her ability to learn French. Retroactive interference would be if Kasey learned French first, and then had difficulty recalling her previously learned Spanish. Memory decay and encoding failure are not relevant to this situation.

Question 11

Regarding interference as a cause of forgetting,which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) The more different the school subjects studied, the more interference that is likely to occur between the two subjects.
B) The interference effects apply primarily to memories of verbal information, rather than learning a motor skill.
C) Retroactive interference occurs when prior learning inhibits the recall of later learning.
D) Proactive interference refers to the tendency for new learning to inhibit retrieval of old learning.

Accepted Answer

Interference effects are more commonly associated with verbal information rather than motor skills.

Question 12

When old information keeps you from learning new information,which of the following is occurring?
A) selective attention
B) proactive interference
C) repression
D) retroactive interference

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when old information interferes with the learning and retrieval of new information. It happens when old memories or learned information affects the retention of new memories or information.

Question 13

Susan has been using the new computer operating system for over six months.A friend who has an older version of the operating system calls Susan for help,since Susan used this older system for five years before getting the new one.As soon as Susan starts typing on her friend's computer,she realizes that she cannot remember specific details regarding this older operating system.Her inability to remember this older system is due to
A) memory decay.
B) suppression.
C) retroactive interference.
D) proactive interference.

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with our ability to remember old information. In this case, Susan has been using the new operating system for six months, which may have interfered with her ability to remember specific details regarding the older operating system.

Question 14

Brian grew up in California and became an expert surfer and skateboarder.His job transferred him to New Hampshire,where he took up snowboarding with relative ease.This ease in developing this new hobby illustrates
A) vicarious learning.
B) positive transfer.
C) the serial position effect.
D) performance consolidation.

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer refers to the process by which skills, knowledge, or experience in one area facilitate learning or performance in another area. In this case, Brian's previous experience with surfing and skateboarding likely provided him with a solid foundation of balance, coordination, and other skills that are also important for snowboarding. As a result, he was able to adapt relatively quickly to this new activity, demonstrating positive transfer.

Question 15

Kim is having trouble remembering her old phone number even though she had that number for ten years.It seems that her current phone number that she has had for two years is keeping her from remembering her old phone number.This is called
A) proactive interference.
B) retroactive interference.
C) memory decay.
D) suppression.

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with the ability to remember old information, as seen in Kim's difficulty recalling her old phone number after acquiring a new one.

Question 16

According to the explanation of interference as a cause of forgetting,retention will be best when a study session is followed by
A) sleep.
B) light reading or watching TV.
C) studying similar subject matter.
D) studying different subject matter.

Accepted Answer

Interference theory suggests that similar memories interfere with one another and cause forgetting. Therefore, studying similar subject matter right after a study session may actually decrease retention. On the other hand, sleep is known to enhance memory consolidation, so choice A would be the best option.

Question 17

A mail clerk has to rearrange mailboxes in a student dormitory and for a few days has difficulty sorting the mail.This illustrates
A) retroactive interference.
B) proactive interference.
C) memory decay.
D) suppression.

Accepted Answer

The difficulty in sorting the mail suggests that previously learned information (the old mailbox locations) is interfering with the ability to learn and remember new information (the new mailbox locations). This is an example of proactive interference. Retroactive interference would occur if new information interfered with the ability to remember previously learned information, which is not the case in this scenario. Memory decay and suppression are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 18

The degree of interference that occurs when studying two school subjects for equal amounts of time during an evening study session is based on
A) whether retroactive interference occurred.
B) whether proactive interference occurred.
C) the intelligence of the learner.
D) the similarity of the two school subjects.

Accepted Answer

The similarity of the two school subjects is the most important factor in determining the degree of interference that occurs during a study session. If the subjects are very similar, it may be difficult for the learner to differentiate between them and recall the information accurately. Therefore, it is more effective to study subjects that are dissimilar from each other.

Question 19

After college graduation,Chuck decided to use his given name of Charles at his new job.Now that he has been introducing himself to new clients as Charles for the last year,he finds it difficult even in informal situations to refer to himself as Chuck.His tendency to more easily introduce himself as Charles rather than Chuck is best explained by which explanation of forgetting?
A) proactive interference
B) retroactive interference
C) memory decay
D) suppression

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference can occur when new information interferes with the recall of old information. In this case, the new habit of introducing himself as Charles may interfere with Chuck's ability to recall and use his old name, demonstrating retroactive interference.

Question 20

When mastery of one task aids mastery of a second task,then which of the following has taken place?
A) massed practice
B) positive transfer
C) cognitive mapping
D) latent learning

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer occurs when mastery of one task aids in the mastery of a second task. Therefore, this is the best choice. The other options are not relevant to this phenomenon.

Quiz 7: B: Memory

Cecil,Tony,and Juan have recently joined the school's marching band and will be playing tubas.Who will most likely have an initially easier time learning to play the tuba?

Learning to balance and ride a bicycle prior to learning to ride a motorcycle is an example of

If you cram for a psychology exam and then later the same night cram for a history exam,your memory for history will be less accurate because of

If you cram for a psychology exam and then later the same night cram for a history exam,your memory for psychology will be less accurate because of

You have just studied for a psychology test.Which of the following activities would be the LEAST likely to cause retroactive interference?

When new learning disrupts the ability to recall past,stored information,which of the following has occurred?

A college student should expect to experience the greatest interference while studying which two subjects sequentially?

Kasey is having trouble learning French because she finds that having learned Spanish earlier makes it more difficult for her to now learn French.This is known as

Regarding interference as a cause of forgetting,which of the following statements is TRUE?

When old information keeps you from learning new information,which of the following is occurring?

Brian grew up in California and became an expert surfer and skateboarder.His job transferred him to New Hampshire,where he took up snowboarding with relative ease.This ease in developing this new hobby illustrates

Kim is having trouble remembering her old phone number even though she had that number for ten years.It seems that her current phone number that she has had for two years is keeping her from remembering her old phone number.This is called

According to the explanation of interference as a cause of forgetting,retention will be best when a study session is followed by

A mail clerk has to rearrange mailboxes in a student dormitory and for a few days has difficulty sorting the mail.This illustrates

The degree of interference that occurs when studying two school subjects for equal amounts of time during an evening study session is based on

When mastery of one task aids mastery of a second task,then which of the following has taken place?