How does transfer of learning takes place?

The terms transfer of learning is also termed as transfer of training or transfer effect. It refers to the effects of prior learning on new learning. Transfer is considered to be positive if the earlier learning facilitates current learning. If new learning is related then it is considered to be negative transfer. Absence of facilitative of retarding effect means zero transfer. Specific experimental designs are used by psychologists to study the transfer effects. For example, a person wants to know whether learning of English language affects learning of French. To study this he selects a large sample of participants. He randomly divide the sample into two groups, one to be used in the experimental condition and the other as control group.

The experimental group of participants learns English language for a year and is tested to find out their achievements in English. In the second year, they study French. In the end this group is tested to find out its achievement scores in French. The control groups in the first phase does not learn English language and just does it routine work for one year. In the second year, these participants learn French for a year and their achievement scores are obtained. The achievement scores in French of the two groups are then compared. If the achievement score of the experimental group is higher than that of the control group, it implies that positive transfer has taken place, if the score is lower than the control group, it means negative transfer has taken place, if the two groups perform equally well then it shows that transfer effect is zero.