in ability to remember a given set of material that may be attributed to the interf
ering effects of previously learned materials”.
38
It means that if older information interferes with the retrieval of newer information, so there will be
retrieval problem occur in memory. In this type of interference theory, it is stated that the more material
people learn or store, the higher possibility of this interference will occur in their memory.
39
For example, if students were about to study for English test and then Arabic test, interference could occur in two directions. When taking
Arabic test, the English information which studied first may proactively interfere with retrieval of the Arabic information.
2. Retroactive Interference
Retroactive interference is a problem of memory retrieval that occurs when newer information interferes with the retrieval of older information.
40
It can be explained that if newer information interferes with the retrieval of older
information, so retrieval problem will occur in memory. This interference theory stated that “the ability to remember a given set
materials is strongly affected by both prior and subsequent learning. The very act of learning itself constitutes an ironic source of forgetting”.
41
For example, students want to study for English test and then Arabic test. When taking
English test, the more recent studied in which in this case is the Arabic information may retroactively interfere with the retrieval of the English
information.
4. Improving Memory Retention
38
John P. Houston, Fundamentals of Learning, New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1976. p. 256.
39
John P. Houston, Fundamentals of Learning, New York: Academic Press, Inc., p. 241.
40
Saundra K. Ciccarelli and J. Noland White, Psychology, New Jersey: Pearson Education International, 2009. p. 251.
41
John P. Houston, Fundamentals of Learning... p. 242.
It is common that people often forget some things they have experienced andor learned in the past. However, there are some useful ways to help people to
retain any information on their memory. Those ways are: a.
Relearning This method is sometimes known as savings method.
42
It is called so because if people relearn a material as soon as possible after its original
learning, they can save or retain it on their mind better. b.
Recalling Recalling is a method in which people are asked to recall any
information they have received. This method can be used by asking people to make a composition or an essay.
c. Remembering
In the process of remembering, there are three things that must have occurred: encoding, storage, and retrieval.
43
Encoding means putting information into storage by changing the material received into a more-
understandable one. After the process of encoding, the material is stored in memory. In this phase, one thing that may happen is forgetting. The
third aspect of remembering is retrieval. According to Roberta L. Klatzky, the word retrieval refers to
“the getting-at process- obtaining access to information in memory
”.
44
In other words, the process of memory retrieval is the process of getting information which is stored in
memory back. d.
Recognition The process of recognition can be applied by recognizing or noticing the
characteristic of particular information that is wanted to be recalled.
42
Jack C. Adams, Human Memory, America: McGraw Hill, Inc., 1967. p. 20.
43
Roberta L. Klatzky, Human Memory: Structures and Process, USA: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1975. p. 177.
44
Roberta L. Klatzky, Human Memory … p. 178.
e. Paired- association
Paired- association is defined as human task, which requires the subject to associate pairs of verbal units. In this way of improving memory
retention, people are asked to learn to associate, or pair together, two items. As it is shown in the following table:
Table 2.2 Example of Paired-Associate Lists
5. Retaining Students’ Memory on Irregular Verb through Songs.
