The effect of massed versus spaced practice on auditory threshold

Abstract

This experiment was designed to investigate whether an observed decrement in performance during threshold testing is due to a building up of reactive inhibition. The experiment dealt with the effects of fatigue on auditory thresholds when taking repeated measurements using the method of limits. Twenty Ss were tested under two conditions, massed and spaced practice, the one condition maximizing and the other minimizing the effect of reactive inhibition. The results confirmed the hypothesis that for spaced practice no increase in threshold would be found, whereas for massed practice there would be a gradual rise in threshold. The difference between massed and spaced practice was highly significant. The results are discussed in terms of a general fatigue factor or specific inhibition. Some implications for research into personality differences are also given.