Individual Differences in Intentional and Incidental Learning

This study investigates the role of linguistic habits in the intentional and incidental learning of verbal materials. Linguistic habits determine the differential responses made to the stimulus materials during practice. The stronger the differential responses evoked by the stimulus items the better they are recalled. Similarly, individual differences in amount of recall reflect variations in the strength (conventionality) of differential responses. These relationships are more pronounced when learning is incidental than when it is intentional, and also are stronger with nonsense than with meaningful learning materials.