Comparison of semantically and phonemically based training procedures in an overlearned naming task

This article presents a pilot study in which the effects of overlearning on two learning tasks were compared. One task used semantically based training cues (deep processing) in the training; the other used phonemically based cues (shallow processing). 30 subjects were trained on the names of complex visual stimuli, using one of the two training procedures until 200% overlearning was accomplished. Naming probes were conducted 1 wk., 1 mo., and 6 mo. after training was completed. Analysis indicated no significant difference between the two conditions. Several factors may have contributed to this finding, including the possibility that overlearning masked potential differences between the two training procedures.