The episodic context account of retrieval-based learning proposes that retrieval enhances subsequent retention because people must think back to and reinstate a prior learning context. Three experiments directly tested this central assumption of the context account. Subjects studied word lists and then either restudied the words under intentional…

College students received either one half of the objectives for a certain test or no objectives at all. The subjects with objectives performed better than those without on posttest items referenced to their objectives (relevant learning) and less well on items not covered (incidental learning). Findings conflict with previous research. (Author/SE)

The results suggest that coding for storage in the short-term memory is effective when learning occurs under incidental conditions; however, long-term storage appears to be significantly affected by the intention to learn and the foreknowledge of a recall test. (MM)

The primary finding of this study was that performance increments found with whole presentations of instructional objectives could be achieved with part presentation of objectives and text. In fact, the part presentations resulted in ever greater intentional learning than whole presentations. (Author/BJG)

Four kinds of learning are the basis for most of the discussion in this paper: direct-application learning, basic skills, background knowledge, and personal learning. (Author/CB)

Subjects received either specific or general objectives before or after the four sections of the audiotaped lecture. A control group received no objectives. Results on the use of objectives with written text showed that the before position increased intentional learning more than the after position. Incidental learning was significantly higher…

The incidental and intentional learning abilities of high- and low-test-anxious second, fourth, and sixth grade children were explored. (BRT)

A series of papers will be written to review in a comprehensive fashion the literature related to 3 categories of variables in concept learning: task variables, stimulus variables, and learner variables. This paper, the first of the series, focuses on task variables. Research dealing with instructions, temporal factors, and feedback is critically…

The effects of specificity and position of written instructional objectives on learning from an audiotaped lecture were investigated using materials from Rothkopf and Kaplan (1972). Subjects received either specific or general objectives before or after the four sections of the lecture. A control group received no objectives. Vocabulary items used…

Behavioral objectives should be regarded as one of several tools available to educators. Research should be directed toward determining their advantages and limitations, as well as the conditions under which they can be used more effectively. Conditions vary depending upon student awareness of and interest in stated objectives; clarity,…

Intentional learning was found to be more efficient with reward than punishment. Incidental learning results showed no reward- punishment differences. (DG)

This study examined the effects of four characteristics of instructional objectives presented to the student prior to reading, upon intentional and incidental learning. The most salient result was produced by providing instructional objectives to the student prior to the text. The main findings were that (a) density increases (Proportion of…

Fifty-two college students, enrolled in an introductory psychology course, served as subjects for this study, the purposes of which were: (1) to determine whether supplying subjects with a list of behavioral objectives causes them to focus their learning efforts on the specified behaviors to the extent that attention to non-specified behaviors is…

In two identical experiments, undergraduate students were randomly assigned to study course-appropriate prose learning materials under one of four experimental conditions (two levels of experience with objectives by two levels of possession of objectives). Achievement on objectives-relevant test items was significantly higher for possessors…