According to Thorndike's theory of identical elements, in which one of the following situations are we most likely to find positive transfer?
A) Alice learns how to plant corn and then learns how to prune a hedge.
B) Brianne learns how to add 2-digit numbers and then learns how to add 3-digit numbers.
C) Cathy learns early British history and then learns early Japanese history.
D) Devlin learns how to play softball and then learns how to play poker.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thorndike's theory of identical elements states that positive transfer is most likely when there are common elements between the two tasks. In option B, both tasks involve addition, and the only difference is the number of digits. Therefore, there are identical elements in both tasks, making positive transfer more likely. In the other options, there are no identical elements between the tasks, making positive transfer less likely.

According to Thorndike's Theory of Identical Elements, in Which One