Abstract des Autors

The purpose was to investigate further the variable practice effect found by Shea and Kohl. Exp. 1 was an initial attempt to determine the locus of the retention benefits demonstrated by subjects provided variable practice experiences. All groups received 20 aquisition blocks consisting of five test trials per block at a target of 150 N. The interval between test trials was either unfilled or filled, with additional trials consisting for the same target force, variable target forces, or practice on an unrelated motor task. Results indicated retention was not incremented (relative to an unfilled interval) by requiring subjects to perform an unrelated motor task in the interest-trial interval. Hovewer, when the interest-trial interval was filled with practice on related motor tasks, retention was sifgnificantly improved. Exp. 2 assessed the impact of increasing the number of related motor tasks interpolated between test trials. Results indicated filling the interest-trial interval with one motor task resulted in large retention benefits relative to an unfilled interval. Further increases in the number of related motor tasks (3) interpolated between test trials resulted in only modest increments to retention. Results were consistent with the elaboration perspective proposed by Shea and Zimny (1983). The elaboration perspective proposes that the simultaneous presence of related items in working memory facilitates interitem elaborative and distinctive processing that ultimately results in retention benefits. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)