Transfer of Learning

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Chapter 13

• Transfer of Learning

Concept Transfer of learning from one
performance situation to another is an integral
part of skill learning and performance
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What is Transfer of Learning?

• Influence of previous experience on
• Learning a new skill
• Performing a skill in a new context
• This influence can result in the following
• Positive transfer
• Negative transfer
• Neutral (zero)

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Why is Transfer of Learning Important?

• Transfer principle has practical and theoretical
  significance for
• Sequencing skills to be learned
• Developing instructional methods
• Assessing the effectiveness of practice conditions

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Why Does Positive Transfer of Learning Occur?

• Two commonly accepted reasons
• Both based on the relationship between the
  previous and new experience or context
• See Figure 13.1
• Similarity of skill and context components
• Thorndikes identical elements theory
• Similarity of processing requirements
• Transfer-appropriate processing view
• Although much remains unknown about the cause of
  transfer of learning, evidence points to the
  value of both hypotheses in accounting for
  transfer effect

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Why Does Positive Transfer of Learning Occur?

• Two commonly accepted reasons
• Both based on the relationship between the
  previous and new experience or context
• See Figure 13.1
• Similarity of skill and context components
• Thorndikes identical elements theory
• Similarity of processing requirements
• Transfer-appropriate processing view
• Although much remains unknown about the cause of
  transfer of learning, evidence points to the
  value of both hypotheses in accounting for
  transfer effect

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Negative Transfer

• Considered rare and temporary in motor skill
  learning
• Occurs when new skill or context involves
• Similar environmental context features but
  requires a different movement response
• Negative effects can be overcome with practice
• Important for the practitioner to be aware that
  it could cause discouragement early in practice

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Why Do Negative Transfer Effects Occur?

• Two main reasons
• Motor control system required to perform in
  non-preferred manner for the environmental
  context
• Cognitive confusion

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Bilateral Transfer

• Transfer of learning that involves the positive
  influence of previous experience performing a
  skill with one limb on learning or performing the
  same skill with a different limb, i.e.,
  between-limb transfer
• Also known as cross transfer or cross-education

Experimental evidence of bilateral transfer
provided by this research design
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Bilateral Transfer, contd

• Asymmetric transfer Bilateral transfer in which
  there is a greater amount of transfer from one
  limb than from the other
• Symmetric transfer Bilateral transfer in which
  the amount of transfer is similar from one limb
  to the other, regardless of which was used first
• Is the direction of bilateral transfer an
  important consideration?
• Research shows support for asymmetric transfer
  Greater amount of transfer occurs from preferred
  to non-preferred limb

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Why Does Bilateral Transfer Occur?

• Cognitive explanation Important cognitive
  information acquired from practice with one limb
  and available when other limb begins to perform
• Motor control explanation
• The generalized motor program (GMP) and dynamic
  pattern theories both provide a basis for
  bilateral transfer
• Evidence from EMG activity in non-performing
  contra-lateral limb

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Why Does Bilateral Transfer Occur?

• Cognitive explanation Important cognitive
  information acquired from practice with one limb
  and available when other limb begins to perform
• Motor control explanation
• The generalized motor program (GMP) and dynamic
  pattern theories both provide a basis for
  bilateral transfer
• Evidence from EMG activity in non-performing
  contra-lateral limb