Distribution of Practice Effects on Learning Retention and Relearning by Retarded Boys

The stabilometer task was used to study the difference between massed practice and distributed practice on initial acquisition, retention, and relearning of a gross motor skill by mentally retarded boys. 72 subjects were randomly assigned to either one massed practice group or one of three distributed practice groups with varying intertrial rest intervals. All subjects were retested for retention and relearning after 8 wk. of no practice. The results indicated that distributed practice was superior to massed practice for initial skill acquisition. Retention was superior, favoring the group given distributed practice, but no significant differences were found between groups for relearning, indicating that the advantage of distributed practice may be temporary and that it is a performance rather than a learning factor.