Abstract
Interleaving aids inductive learning by highlighting between-category contrasts; spacing helps only when it does not interrupt juxtaposed discrimination (Birnbaum, Kornell, Bjork, & Bjork, 2013).
Birnbaum, M. S., Kornell, N., Bjork, E. L., & Bjork, R. A. (2013). Why interleaving enhances inductive learning: The roles of discrimination and retrieval. Memory & Cognition, 41(3), 392–402. DOI
Key findings
- Discriminative-contrast hypothesis: — Mixing exemplars from different categories highlights differences, improving inductive learning (extends Kornell & Bjork, 2008; Kang & Pashler, 2012).
- Spacing interruption cost: — Temporal spacing harmed learning when it broke up immediately juxtaposed interleaved categories, even with total spacing held constant.
Application
When a coach teaching movement patterns blocks one technique for an entire session — athletes feel progress but confuse similar forms at test — open this cite for the study behind the move.