Which practice strategy promotes transfer of learning by practicing several motor tasks in random order?

• A. Random practice
• B. Blocked practice
• C. Massed practice
• D. Mental practice

Answer: (A)

Random practice, which varies the tasks and their order, engages contextual interference that forces you to continually re-solve motor problems. This repeated retrieval and adaptation of different movement patterns helps build more flexible motor representations, so you’re better able to transfer what you’ve learned to new tasks or unfamiliar contexts. By not knowing what task comes next, you must continually update strategies, leading to improved retention and transfer to real-world performance.

Blocked practice, where you repeat the same task in a block, often feels smooth and fast at first but doesn’t promote transfer as effectively because the learning stays specific to that task and context. Massed practice emphasizes many trials with little rest, which can reduce consolidation and lead to fatigue, hindering transfer. Mental practice involves imagining movements without physical execution; while helpful as a supplement, it doesn’t provide the sensory feedback essential for robust transfer, so it’s not as strong a promoter of transfer as random, varied practice.