Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The effect of overlearning on transfer of training on the A-B:A-B_r* paradigm was studied in paired-associate learning with meaningful material (adjective pairs). One group of subjects was trained to criterion on list A-B, and two additional groups were given 100 per cent and 200 per cent overlearning on list A-B. Rate of learning list A-B_r was found to be directly related to amount of overlearning. Negative transfer on list A-B_r was found for errors with the criterion group, while positive transfer was found for the 100 per cent and 200 per cent overlearning groups. The results were consistent with previous paired-associate experiments, and with results of some maze, reversal learning experiments with infrahuman subjects.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Boe

E. E.

(1964). Extinction as a function of intensity of punishment, amount of training, and reinforcement of a competing response. Canad. J. Psychol. 18, 328–42.

Capaldi

E. J.

Stevenson

H. W.

(1957). Response reversal following different amounts of training. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 50, 195–8.

D'Amato

M. R.

Jagoda

(1961). Analysis of the role of overlearning in discrimination learning. J. exp. Psychol. 61, 45–50.

Erlebacher

(1963). Reversal learning in rats as a function of percentage of reinforcement and degree of learning. J. exp. Psychol. 66, 84–90.

Hill

W. F.

Spear

N. E.

Clayton

K. N.

(1962). A comparison of T-maze reversal learning after several different overtraining procedures. J. exp. Psychol. 64, 533–40.

Mandler

(1954). Transfer of training as a function of degree of response overlearning. J. exp. Psychol. 47, 411–7.

Mandler

(1962). From association to structure. Psychol. Rev. 69, 415–27.

Mandler

Heinemann

S. H.

(1956). Effect of overlearning of a verbal response on transfer of training. J. exp. Psychol. 52, 39–46.

Porter

L. W.

Duncan

C. P.

(1953). Negative transfer in verbal learning. J. exp. Psychol. 46, 61–4.

10.

Reid

L. S.

(1953). The development of noncontinuity behavior through continuity learning. J. exp. Psychol. 46, 107–12.

11.

Schultz

R. W.

Rundquist

W. N.

(1960). Learning and retention of paired adjectives as a function of percentage occurrence of response members. J. exp. Psychol. 59, 409–13.

12.

Shpola

E. M.

Israel

H. E.

(1933). Habit interference as dependent upon stage of training. Amer. J. Psychol. 45, 205–27.

13.

Twedt

H. M.

Underwood

B. J.

(1959). Mixed vs. unmixed lists in transfer studies. J. exp. Psychol. 58, 111–6.

14.

Warren

J. H.

(1960). Reversal learning by paradise fish (Macropodus operculares). J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 53, 376–8.

The Effect of Overlearning on Transfer of Training

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References