Studies in Cue Utilization Behavior. Part 1. The Influence of a Relevant but 'Unused' Cue in Training Upon Transfer in a Positive Transfer Situation

In a training device or simulator an attempt is made to provide the primary stimulus cues which exist in the operational equipment or situation for which the student is being trained. In a simulator, however, additional or secondary cues may be introduced unintentionally which the student can use to obtain successful performance. If such secondary cues are available and used by the student, will he also learn to use those which are primary and must be relied upon in the operational situation. In four separate experiments directed toward this question subjects learned, on the basis of a secondary cue, a task which also contained a 'primary' cue. They were then forced to perform the task on the basis of the 'primary' cue alone. Their performance was compared with that of subjects who had not experienced the 'primary' cue during learning. The results of these experiments support the hypothesis that little or nothing is learned about performing a task on the basis of the 'primary' cue while learning is occurring on the basis of a secondary cue. The results point-up the potential inadequacy of any training device which permits successful performance in the device on the basis of cues other than those which permit successful performance in the operational situation.