Interference effects on retention are greatest when the interfering learning is
A) similar to the material to be remembered.
B) dissimilar to the material to be remembered.
C) unrelated to the material to be remembered.
D) similarity of the materials does not seem to affect retention.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Interference effects on retention are greatest when the interfering material is similar to the material to be remembered. This is because similar materials compete for the same neural pathways and encoding processes, leading to interference and reduced retention. In contrast, dissimilar or unrelated materials are less likely to interfere with each other, and retention may be less affected.

Interference Effects on Retention Are Greatest When the Interfering Learning