TRANSFER OF GENERAL SKILLS ACROSS DOMAINS: COMPUTER PROGRAM DEBUGGING AND TROUBLESHOOTING OF CIRCUITS

A general finding in psychological studies is that little to no transfer occurs across domains. This research proposes four components as critical elements for finding across domain transfer: 1) examining a single level of skill, 2) transfer of domain general knowledge, 3) extensive practice, and 4) specific training on the strategies used. To test these components, the skill of diagnosis will be examined. General diagnostic skill should transfer, but specific knowledge such as computer programming knowledge or electronic component knowledge should not transfer.The experiments focus on the transfer of diagnostic strategies across domains by examining computer progra m debugging and electronic troubleshooting. The first experiment examines spontaneous transfer of skill by asking experts and novices to solve debugging and troubleshooting problems. The results from this experiment will expose strategies that are used spontaneously when experienced programmers encounter the troubleshootin g problems. The second experiment examines subjects who have little to no experience with either computer programming or electronic troubleshooting. The results from this second experiment will test whether or not training can influence transfer of across domains.To summarize, the current research provides a good analysis of the components of skills and a specific definition and measure of transfer. Extensive training in programming should enable transfer of general diagnostic skills to an electronic troubleshooting task. Thus, if extensive training on how to debug computer programs, with specific training on the skill is provided, and students are asked to reflect on how that skill is used, students should be able to use the diagnosis skill on other types o f diagnostic tasks. Therefore, the skill of diagnosis can be transferable to other situations.