To summarize the results: The new series formed by skipping 1, 2, 3 and 7 intermediate members were learned with an average saving of 152, 94, 78 and 42 seconds. In the case of the construction of a new series through a mere permutation of the syllables, there was an average saving of 12 seconds.
In order to determine the significance of these figures, it is necessary to compare them with the saving in work in my case in the relearning of an unchanged series after 24 hours. This amounted to about one third of the time necessary for the first learning in the case of 16-syllable series, therefore about 420 seconds.
This number measures the strength of the connection existing between each member and its immediate sequent, therefore the maximal effect of association under the conditions established. If this is taken as unity, then the strength of the connection of each member with the second following is a generous third and with the third following is a scant fourth.
The nature of the results obtained confirm—for myself and the cases investigated—the second conception given above and explained by means of a quotation from Herbart. With repetition of the syllable series not only are the individual terms associated with their immediate sequents but connections are also established between each term and several of those which follow it beyond intervening members. To state it briefly, there seems to be an association not merely in direct but also in indirect succession. The strength of these connections decreases with the number of the intervening numbers; with a small number it was, as will be admitted, of surprising and unanticipated magnitude.
No evidence has been secured, however, establishing the facilitation of the process of relearning a series by means of the identity of the syllables and the identity of the initial and final terms.
Section 38. Experiments with Exclusion of Knowledge
I have hitherto not stated the probable errors of the results, in order to discuss their reliability more fully at this time.
When I started upon the experiment I had no decided opinion in favor of the final results. I did not find facilitation of the learning of the derived series essentially more plausible than the opposite. As the numbers more and more bespoke the existence
