The effect of overlearning on transfer of training

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.

The notation “A-B:A-B_r” will be used for the transfer paradigm in which the same stimuli and responses are used in both the original acquisition phase of paired associate learning and in the subsequent transfer of training phase. In the transfer phase, however, the responses (i.e. B) are rearranged so that they are paired with different stimuli (i.e. A). The notation “A-B:A-C” will be used for the transfer paradigm in which a new set of responses (i.e. C) are paired with the old set of stimuli in the transfer of training phase.