associated with a specific response. Specific transfer means the effect of learning of task A on learning of task B. The learning of task A may make the learning of task B easier or more difficult or have no such effect. Such transfers depend on similarity-dissimilarity between the initial learning task and the second task.
The possible relationships between stimuli and responses are shown in Table . . S.No. Initial Task Second Task Comments .
S A – R A S C – R D Both stimuli and responses are different . S A – R A S A – R A Stimuli are the same and responses are similar . S A – R A S A – R D Stimuli same but responses are different . S A – R A S C – R A Stimuli are different but responses same .
S A – R A S A – R A Same stimuli and responses but associations interchanged TTTTTable able . Similarity-Dissimilarity Similarity-Dissimilarity Similarity-Dissimilarity Similarity-Dissimilarity Similarity-Dissimilarity RRRRRelationship between the Initial and Subsequent Learning T elationship between the Initial and Subsequent Learning T elationship between the Initial and Subsequent Learning T elationship between the Initial and Subsequent Learning T elationship between the Initial and Subsequent Learning Tasks asks asks asks asks On the basis of a long series of experimental studies, the following conclusions have been drawn about specific transfer with reference to the situations shown in Table . . .
In the first instance, the initial and transfer tasks are very different both in stimuli as well as in responses. Hence no specific transfer is expected. However, due to the mechanism of general transfer some degree of positive transfer may occur. .
In the second case, the stimuli of the two tasks are the same and responses are highly similar. Therefore, maximum transfer may occur. It has been regularly shown that in this condition positive transfer takes place. F ACTORS F ACILITATING L EARNING In the preceding section we examined the specific determinants of learning, such as contiguous presentation of CS and US in classical conditioning; number, amount,