In the public domain Analysis of Part-Task Training Using the Backward-Transfer Technique

Researchers conducted 2 experiments that used backward transfer to improve the efficiency of part-task training for a desktop flight simulator. In Experi-ment 1, a part-task group showed positive transfer but did not perform as well as a whole-task group. Backward-transfer analysis indicated that only a subset of the component tasks was critical to the criterion task. In Experiment 2, a part-task training regime that used the critical component tasks was compared with a whole-task regime and a part-task regime composed of noncritical compo-nent tasks. Results indicated that the critical part-task regime was as effective as the whole-task regime, validating the utility of the backward-transfer technique. The research discussed in this article examined complex skill acquisition involving a dynamic spa-tial task, coupled with an analysis of the effects of a backward-transfer approach to training. A discus-sion of part-task training and the factors that influence the effectiveness of part-task training is followed by an overview of the transfer of training paradigm used to test part-task training effective-ness. We conclude our literature review with an in-depth discussion of the specific training tech-nique used in our two experimental studies; namely, the backward-transfer approach. Part-Task Training Part-task training has long been a popular ap-proach to training complex manual control an