Understanding the Purpose of Strategy Training

S ummary . Two groups of retarded adults were trained to use a cumulative rehearsal strategy for a serial recall task. Those subjects who received instructions which emphasised the intended purpose and potential uses of the trained strategy showed significantly better serial recall performance than subjects invited to participate in ‘a remembering task’. The superiority in serial recall performance was present up to one week after training ceased. The results are discussed in terms of the role of executive, or metacognitive, skills in the facilitation of transfer.