Verbal Learning and Self- and Super-Imposed Organization

Abstract

The study was designed to test the general hypothesis that the acquisition of information is greater when the learner is trained to use a self-imposed organizational system rather than one which has been super-imposed on him by others. The results supported the hypothesis with a significant main effect for type of organization in favor of self-imposed training. In addition, it was found that with regard to the acquisition of information, serial memorization is more effective than self-imposed or super-imposed organizational systems in which no training is given; self-imposed testing situations are superior for retention; and self-imposed learning tested in self-imposed testing situations is superior to all other combinations of organization and testing.