Abstract
Experiments comparing the effects of fixed- and random-order serial presentation on paired-associate learning have not produced consistent results. On the assumption that differences may appear at only a certain point in the learning process, an experiment was devised to determine the form of the learning curves under the two conditions. A test trial on which the order of the pairs were randomized from test to test followed each of 20 study trials with pairs in either random or fixed order. Facilitation by fixed order presentation appeared toward the end of learning and although both groups reached asymptote, the fixed-order group reached it considerably ahead of the random-order group. Analysis of the data suggests a possible reason for the superiority of fixed-order presentation.
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1. Preparation of this paper was supported in part by grants to the University of Minnesota, Center for Research in Human Learning, from the National Science Foundation (GS 1761), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PO 1-HD-01136), and the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota.
2. Appreciation is extended to Mr. Joel Best for his help in data collection and to Mr. Jim Palmer for his help in data analysis.
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Samuels, S.J., Jeffrey, W.E. Locus of facilitation for paired-associate learning under fixed-order presentation. Psychon Sci 10, 355–356 (1968). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331558
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331558