Facilitative Transfer in Prose Learning over an Extended Time Period a

Abstract

Recent studies by Royer and Cable demonstrated that an initial prose passage which established a relevant knowledge structure into which difficult to learn second passage material could be assimilated would enhance the learning of the second passage material. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this facilitative transfer would occur over a time interval. Subjects read a treatment or control passage and then studied and were tested on a second passage immediately, after two days, or one week later. The results indicated that the previously found facilitative transfer effect did not diminish with time.