Successive Interpolation and Retroactive Inhibition: Between-Groups and Within-Group Comparisons

Summary

Retroactive inhibition (RI) was tested in 72 men and women college students contrasting an A-B, A-C with a successive-interpolation condition, on both a between-groups and a within-group comparison. Successive interpolation caused greater RI than A-C, but only for the between-groups contrast, and therefore increased RI on a list-wise basis. The results were discussed in terms of specificity of RI found in previous studies. It was concluded that loss of particular List 1 responses has been related to the presence of their stimuli during IL. Furthermore, that given stimulus presence, the loss is due to general disruption of the List 1 retrieval route, possibly caused by lack of differentiation from the newly forming List 2 retrieval routes.