Transfer from serial to paired-associate learning with two paired-associate rates

Abstract

Eighty Ss learned a serial (Ser) list and then either a paired-associate (PA) list composed of adjacent items from the previously learned Ser list or a PA list derived from an unfamiliar Ser list. All Ss learned their Ser list at a 2-sec presentation rate. Following Ser learning Ss were divided equally into two groups. One group learned their PA list at a 2:2-sec presentation rate while the other learned their PA list at a 6:6-sec rate. The results indicated positive transfer from Ser to PA, and this effect was confined to the 6:6-sec PA condition. The results were interpreted as supporting both the “cluster” and “response integration” hypotheses. A “cognitive strategy” interpretation was also offered.