PAIRED-ASSOCIATE LEARNING IN 5 ALTERNATING-LIST TRANSFER PARADIGMS

Paired-associate learning was studied in five alternating-list transfer paradigms. This was accomplished by alternating practice on two lists every two trials during learning. Differences in learning among the alternating-list CD, CB, AD and ABr paradigms were explained by interference from two established sources, conflicting forward associations, and conflicting backward associations, thereby extending the generality of the evidence for these sources of interference. Early acquisition in the alternating-list AB' paradigm did not differ from the CD paradigm or the single-list AB paradigm, but was significantly lower than both paradigms in later acquisition. This finding along with the high appropriate error rate in the AB' paradigm suggested the presence of forward association interference under conditions of alternate-list transfer. © 1969 Academic Press Inc. All rights reserved.