This study was based on Battig's conceptualization that increased contextual interference during skill acquisition can lead to improved retention or transfer, especially under changed contextual conditions. Subjects learned three motor tasks under a blocked (low interference) or random (high interference) sequence of presentation. Retention was measured after a 10-min. or 10-day delay under blocked and random sequences of presentation. Subsequent transfer to a task of either the same complexity or greater complexity than the originally learned tasks was also investigated. Results showed that retention was greater following high interference (random) acquisition than after low interference (blocked) acquisition when retention was measured under changed contextual interference conditions. Likewise, transfer was greater for high interference (random) acquisition groups than for low interference (blocked) acquisition groups. This effect was most notable when transfer was measured for the transfer task of greatest complexity. These results are considered as support for Battig's conceptualization of contextual interference effects on retention and transfer. Implications for the teaching of motor skills are also discussed.Research concerned with verbal learning and rule learning has provided evidence that learning under conditions of high intratask interference results in improved retention and, to a lesser extent, facilitation of transfer (Battig, 1972;Hiew, 1977). Battig (1978) has recently incorporated these findings into a general conceptualization of memory that is in line with the levels of processing framework for memory research

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The effects of practice schedule and amount of practice on the development of the generalized motor program (GMP) and on parameter estimation were investigated. Participants (N = 108) practiced the same relative timing but different absolute durations of a multisegment timing task. Practice schedules (constant, blocked, or serial) were crossed with amounts of practice (low and high). Inclusion of a constant practice condition allowed the authors to investigate the variability of practice prediction. Participants practiced the same proportional durations in a serial or a blocked schedule, which enabled the authors to examine contextual interference. A constant practice schedule enhanced GMP performance when task parameters remained the same, but varied practice schedules were beneficial when task parameters changed. A serial as opposed to a blocked practice schedule was superior when the performance of a task governed by a different GMP was required. Increased practice led to a consolidated task representation that was unavailable for updating.

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