STUDIES IN TRANSFER LEARNING; EFFECT OF METHODS OF INSTRUCTION ON OPERATOR PROFICIENCY,

Abstract : The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of two contrasted methods of instruction on the learning, retention, and transfer of complex operator skills. The two methods represent forms of self study exercises and can be characterized as Rote (concrete or perceptual learning) and Concept (learning of principles and generalizations). The results of the study leave little doubt that the two instructional methods, rote and conceptual, had different effects upon performance at all three stages of the experiment-initial learning, reten tion, and transfer. It seems to us that part of the impact of these results rests with the re versal in rank order performance that occurred between the Initial Proficiency test and the Retention and Transfer tests. (Author)