Response Requirement and Nature of Interpolated Stories in Retroactive Inhibition in Prose

Investigations into retroactive inhibition (RI) in prose learning have yielded conflicting results, due basically to 1.) the similarity of the interpolated learning materials, 2.) the general nature of the materials, and 3.) the type of responses required. In this study, 190 Ss were randomly assigned to one of eight treatment groups in a 2 × 4 factorial design, the factors being Response Requirements and Nature of Interpolated Passages. All Ss read the same original story. They then read two more stories, either of which might be similar or dissimilar to the original, depending upon the treatment. Half the Ss were tested in a multiple-choice format and the others in a short answer essay format. An analysis of variance indicated that both response requirements and similarity of the interpolated stories affect RI. The multiple-choice format resulted in more correct answers than did the short answer format. And the more closely in time the test followed a story similar to the original, the more pronounced the effect of RI.