Optimizing Training for Visual Discrimination Across Stimulus Categories

Abstract

Discriminating between stimuli is a component of many complex tasks such as radar operations and flying an F-16. Previous research suggests that initial training difficulty may influence the acquisition and transfer of strategic discrimination skills for such tasks. The current research examined the extent to which strategies acquired during initial training may be transferred to novel stimuli. Participants were trained to discriminate between similar (difficult training) or dissimilar (easy training) stimuli and then were required to discriminate between completely novel stimuli. Of specific interest were the effects of strategic skills acquired in a difficult- or easy-training context on inter-categorical transfer performance. The results provided further evidence that initial training difficulty influences strategic skill acquisition and suggest that strategic skills are applied at transfer, even to a completely novel category of stimuli. The implications of this research are discussed in the context of learning theories and training.