SCHEMA ACQUISITION FROM A SINGLE EXAMPLE

This study compares Similarity-Based Learning (SBL) and Explanation-Based Learning (EBL) approaches to schema acquisition. In SBL approaches, concept formation is based on similarity across multiple examples. However, these approaches seem to be appropriate when the learner cannot apply existing knowledge and when the concepts to be learned are nonexplanatory. EBL approaches assume that a schema can be acquired from even a single example by constructing an explanation of the example using background knowledge, and generalizing the resulting explanation. However, unlike the current EBL theories, Experiment 1 showed significant EBL occurred only when the background information learned during the experiment was actively used by the Ss. Experiment 2 showed the generality of EBL mechanisms across a variety of materials and test procedures.