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Published on: February 13, 2020
Analysis of effects of distribution of practice in learning and retention of a continuous and a discrete skill
J A García1, F J Moreno, R Reina
1Sports Sciences Faculty, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la niversidad s/n, Cáceres 10071, Spain. gherrero@unex.es
Abstract:
This investigation examined the effects of distributed and massed practice on the learning and retention of a discrete computerized skill (Exp. 1) and a continuous computerized skill (Exp. 2). 40 men were randomly assigned to one of four groups, of which two groups took part in Exp. 1 and two groups in Exp. 2. Performance was assessed at various points during acquisition and then on 8 retention tests conducted at varying times after acquisition. Learning curves for practice were highly similar for the two conditions. Participants in the distributed-practice group performed significantly better than those in the massed-practice group at the end of practice on both the discrete and continuous skills. However, participants in the distributed-practice group performed significantly more poorly on retention during 24 hr. and after acquisition. Participants in the massed-practice condition performed significantly better on retention tests than did those who learned in the distributed-practice condition.
