Transfer of Learning
This page explains 'Transfer of Learning' — its three main types (positive, negative and zero) and the key theories of Thorndike-Woodworth and Charles Judd — in simple, exam-ready English. It is an important learning-related topic in REET's CDP section.
- No direct question from this topic in REET 2024
- Teacher-training level
- 8 min read
How REET asks questions from this topic
None of the 930 digitised REET 2024 questions came directly from 'Transfer of Learning', but it is an important part of the Learning chapter within the official CDP syllabus, so there is every chance of a question in upcoming exams. Going by the syllabus outline, this topic tends to draw questions on identifying and giving examples of the three types (positive/negative/zero), and on the difference between Thorndike's and Judd's theories.
What is Transfer of Learning?
When previously learned knowledge, skill or experience affects learning in a new situation, it is called transfer of learning. This effect can be positive, negative or zero, and understanding it matters for teachers because it shows which direction the material being taught will shape a student's future learning.
Transfer of learning is not limited to academic subjects alone — it happens continuously in everyday-life skills, habits and social behaviour too, which is why understanding it is useful for both teachers and students.
Types of transfer of learning
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Transfer | Prior learning helps with new learning | Having learned to ride a bicycle makes it easier to learn to ride a motorbike |
| Negative Transfer | Prior learning hinders new learning | Someone used to driving on the right finding it hard to drive in a country where traffic drives on the left |
| Zero Transfer | Prior learning has no effect on new learning | Knowledge of history neither helps nor hinders learning a new geometric method in maths |
| Bilateral Transfer | A skill learned with one part of the body transfers to the corresponding part on the other side | Some benefit from learning to write with the right hand also carries over to practising writing with the left hand |
Source: based on Wikipedia and BNS Institute.[Source 2]
Major theories of transfer
- Identical Elements Theory
- According to Thorndike and Woodworth, transfer only happens when the old and new situations share identical/similar elements[Source 2]
- Generalization Theory
- According to Charles Judd, transfer happens not through similarity of elements, but by understanding general principles/rules and applying them in a new situation[Source 3]
Thorndike vs Judd: the key difference
Thorndike believed that transfer requires concrete, specific similarities between two situations (such as similar actions or material), while Judd believed that if a student grasps the underlying general principle (generalisation), they can apply it even in a very different-looking situation.
This is why Judd emphasised concept-based teaching in the classroom, rather than rote memorisation or mechanical practice. Judd's thinking suggests that if a student understands the basic logic of a rule, they will be able to apply that rule to new, unfamiliar problems on their own.
Why teachers need to know this
Understanding transfer of learning makes a teacher's lesson planning more effective. If it is made clear, while teaching a lesson, which other subjects or life situations it will be useful in, students internalise that knowledge for the long term instead of just memorising it for an exam.
Recognising negative transfer is just as important — for instance, if students keep repeating the same mistake in a new method because of a habit formed by an older method, the teacher should clearly explain the difference between the two methods to remove this confusion, so learning is not obstructed.
A simple way to decide which type of transfer a given classroom example illustrates is to ask whether the earlier learning made the new task easier, harder, or left it unaffected — this single question sorts almost every REET example into positive, negative, or zero transfer without needing to memorise long definitions. It is also worth remembering that positive transfer is the outcome good teaching actively tries to maximise, since it is what allows students to build new understanding on top of what they already know, rather than learning every topic from a blank slate — this is precisely why REET's pedagogy questions treat 'making connections across subjects' as good practice and 'ignoring prior knowledge' as poor practice.
Applying this in the classroom
| Situation | Signal for teachers |
|---|---|
| Increasing positive transfer | Show connections between subjects (such as linking the concept of percentages in maths to everyday examples), so students can apply what they learn in one place elsewhere |
| Avoiding negative transfer | When teaching a new concept, clearly explain the difference between the old and new method (such as the difference in rules for adding fractions versus decimals), to avoid confusion |
| Promoting generalisation (per Judd) | Explain the underlying principle/rule rather than relying on rote learning, so students can apply it to new and different kinds of problems too |
| Adding practical, real-life examples | Wherever possible, link lessons to everyday situations, so learning transfers easily outside the classroom too and stays memorable longer |
Factors that affect transfer
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Similarity between the two situations | The greater the similarity (in material, method or principle), the greater the likelihood of transfer |
| Level of understanding | Students who understand a concept deeply are better able to apply it in new situations |
| Teaching method | Material taught with examples, comparisons and real-life applications transfers more effectively |
| Attitude | If a student approaches a new situation with an open, positive attitude, they are more likely to draw on prior knowledge |
Exam tip
Remember: 'positive' = helps, 'negative' = hinders, 'zero' = no effect at all. And for the theories: Thorndike-Woodworth = 'Identical Elements' (concrete similarity), Judd = 'Generalization' (understanding of principle) — remember the name and the theory as a pair, so the two are never confused.
Practice questions
Question 1
Learning to ride a bike easily after learning to ride a bicycle is an example of what?
- Aशून्य स्थानांतरण
- Bकोई स्थानांतरण नहीं
- Cनकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
- Dसकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
Explanation
Prior experience of riding a bicycle helps with skills like balance and steering, so this is an example of positive transfer.
Question 2
Someone used to right-side driving finding it hard to drive on the left in another country is an example of what?
- Aनकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
- Bशून्य स्थानांतरण
- Cसमरूप तत्व सिद्धांत
- Dसकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
Explanation
An old habit is creating a hindrance in a new situation, so this is an example of negative transfer.
Question 3
Who proposed the 'Identical Elements Theory'?
- Aफ्रायड
- Bचार्ल्स जड
- Cथार्नडाइक व वुडवर्थ
- Dपावलव
Explanation
Thorndike and Woodworth gave the Identical Elements Theory, which states that transfer occurs only when both situations share concrete similarities.
Question 4
According to Charles Judd, transfer is mainly based on what?
- Aदो परिस्थितियों में ठोस समानता
- Bसामान्य सिद्धांत/नियम की समझ
- Cकेवल याददाश्त
- Dकेवल पुरस्कार
Explanation
According to Judd's Generalization Theory, transfer happens when a student understands the underlying general principle and applies it to a new situation.
Question 5
When prior learning has neither a positive nor a negative effect on new learning, it is called what?
- Aशून्य स्थानांतरण
- Bनकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
- Cसमरूप स्थानांतरण
- Dसकारात्मक स्थानांतरण
Explanation
When prior learning has neither a positive nor a negative effect on new learning, it is called zero transfer.
Question 6
Which of the following would be considered an example of 'zero transfer'?
- Aसाइकिल का अनुभव बाइक चलाने में मदद करना
- Bगलत उच्चारण की आदत नई भाषा सीखने में बाधा डालना
- Cअंग्रेजी व्याकरण के नियम स्पेनिश सीखने में मदद करना
- Dइतिहास पढ़ने का गणित की एक नई ज्यामितीय विधि सीखने पर कोई असर न पड़ना
Explanation
There is no shared element or principle between history and a geometric method in maths, so the effect will be zero — this is an example of zero transfer.
Question 7
A teacher shows connections between subjects so students can apply learning across contexts. This aims to promote which type of transfer?
- Aशून्य
- Bसकारात्मक
- Cसमरूप
- Dनकारात्मक
Explanation
Showing connections between different subjects helps students use knowledge learned in one place elsewhere, which promotes positive transfer.
Question 8
According to Judd's theory, what should a teacher emphasise most in class?
- Aकेवल गृहकार्य की मात्रा
- Bकेवल रटना
- Cअंतर्निहित सिद्धांत व अवधारणा की समझ
- Dकेवल परीक्षा अभ्यास
Explanation
According to Judd's theory, deep conceptual understanding is what enables a student to apply knowledge in new situations.
Question 9
What is the main difference between Thorndike's and Judd's theories of transfer?
- Aथार्नडाइक ठोस समानता पर बल देते हैं, जड सामान्य सिद्धांत की समझ पर
- Bथार्नडाइक केवल भाषा से जुड़े हैं
- Cजड केवल गणित से जुड़े हैं
- Dदोनों बिल्कुल एक जैसे हैं
Explanation
Thorndike-Woodworth's theory is based on the similarity of concrete/identical elements, while Judd's theory is based on understanding a general rule/principle.
Question 10
What does the term 'transfer of learning' refer to?
- Aकेवल परीक्षा में अंक स्थानांतरित होना
- Bएक कक्षा से दूसरी कक्षा में जाना
- Cएक विद्यालय से दूसरे विद्यालय में स्थानांतरण
- Dपहले सीखे का नई सीख को प्रभावित करना
Explanation
Transfer of learning refers to how something learned earlier affects a new learning situation.
Frequently asked questions
How many main types of transfer of learning are there?+
Mainly three — positive, negative and zero transfer; besides these, 'bilateral transfer', which happens from one part of the body to another, is also considered a special type.
Who proposed the 'Identical Elements Theory'?+
Thorndike and Woodworth.
Who proposed the 'Generalization Theory'?+
Charles Judd.
What kind of questions can REET ask from this topic?+
Mainly questions that identify and give examples of the three types of transfer, and factual questions based on the difference between Thorndike's and Judd's theories.
What is an example of zero transfer?+
When prior learning has neither a positive nor a negative effect on new learning — for instance, knowledge of history has no effect on learning a new mathematical method.
What is the practical classroom impact of Judd's theory?+
According to Judd's theory, a teacher should emphasise deep conceptual understanding rather than rote learning, because only then will a student be able to successfully apply a learned rule to new and different situations.
What is 'Bilateral Transfer'?+
It is the transfer in which a skill learned with one part of the body (such as the right hand) also carries over, to some extent, to the corresponding part on the other side (such as the left hand).
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REET Syllabus (Full)
The complete official subject-wise REET Level 1 and Level 2 syllabus in one place.
REET 2024 Solved Paper
All REET 2024 questions, answers and detailed explanations.
Official Sources
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- 17 September 2026 — English pilot page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked