LEARNING BY REPETITION: CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES - PSYCHOLOGY - 2024

The rote learning is one of the basic mechanisms by which humans are able to acquire new knowledge and skills. It is based on the phenomenon whereby, when we expose ourselves over and over to the same stimulus, we internalize it until it becomes part of us.

Despite the fact that on many occasions it is possible to confuse them, repetition learning is not exactly the same as rote learning. The main difference is that the former has more to do with procedural knowledge and skills, while the latter usually involves learning pure information.

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Repetition learning is one of the most widely used in education, both formal and informal. However, although it is very useful in some areas, in others it produces very poor results. In this article we will see its main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

characteristics

It allows to acquire different types of knowledge

Learning by repetition is one of the basic processes through which we can acquire knowledge. In fact, it is a psychological mechanism shared by a large number of animal species. Because it appeared early in our evolution as a species, it is one of the most general learning systems in existence.

The result of this is that repetition learning allows us to acquire a great variety of different knowledge, be it procedural, informational (in which case we would be talking about a type of rote learning), or even at the level of beliefs and attitudes..

For example, one type of repetition learning would be training to drive a car; but so would the memorization of a poetry, or the internalization of a stereotype due to exposure to it. Learning related to classical and operant conditioning are also part of this set.

It goes from the conscious to the unconscious

Generally, in a repetition learning process the following sequence occurs. The person begins to perform a task or to repeat new information consciously, focusing their attention and using tools such as working memory and concentration.

However, little by little the information that is being repeated or the skill that is being practiced begins to be absorbed by the subconscious mind. With sufficient exposure to this new learning material, the person is able to internalize it to the point that they do not need to turn to their consciousness to use it.

This process, however, does not always happen. Sometimes a person may be passively exposed to information, belief or attitude, without realizing it. If this exposure is given enough times, the individual may end up internalizing this learning material without the need for any effort.

This is, in fact, the way that children are believed to learn such basic skills as language: through mere passive exposure to their parents' speech.

The degree of learning varies according to the situation

Because it encompasses such a wide variety of situations and content, repetition learning does not always produce the same results. In some areas, especially those in which the contents to be absorbed have to do with data or facts, this learning method is usually very superficial.

On the contrary, repetition learning is very strong in those fields that have to do with the acquisition of skills, beliefs and attitudes. A clear example could be the fact of learning to ride a bicycle: no matter how long a person does not do it, they will continue to maintain this ability.

Advantage

Learning by repetition has several clear advantages over other ways of acquiring knowledge. On the one hand, it is the most effective way to internalize new skills, both physical (such as playing a sport or playing an instrument) and cognitive (for example, solving mathematical problems or composing songs).

On the other hand, the mental investment required to carry out repetitive learning is much less than that required by other ways of acquiring knowledge. Even very little evolved animal species, such as insects or amphibians, are capable of learning by repetition in a very basic way.

In addition to this, repetition learning is among the most versatile, since it allows acquiring both factual knowledge (related to data and facts) and skills, beliefs and attitudes.

Disadvantages

However, although repetition learning can be very useful in certain areas, it is not all advantages. This way of acquiring knowledge presents a series of problems, which make it not equally effective for any situation.

On the one hand, when what is intended is to acquire new information at the rote level, repetition learning does not produce very good results. Although it is possible to remember pure data simply by repeating it, it is often easily forgotten and it is not easy to relate it to other previously existing ideas.

In addition to this, repetition learning can also cause problems when harmful information is internalized unconsciously. An example of this could be that of a child who is constantly told by her parents and teachers that she is "bad", until she ends up internalizing this message and develops low self-esteem.

When something like this happens, unearthing unconscious beliefs that have been internalized through a process of repetition learning can be very complicated, and require a lot of effort and time on the part of the person.

Examples

Repetition learning encompasses a large number of different areas and types of knowledge. Below we will see some examples of situations in which this process occurs.

- A person learning to type must first pay conscious attention to the position of the keys. However, over time he is able to press them correctly without thinking about what he is doing.

- A tennis player, after many hours of training and matches, knows how to pick up the racket and hit the ball without having to think about it.

- A student, after several attempts, can internalize the process necessary to solve second degree equations and carry it out without thinking.

References

1. "Repetitive learning" in: La Gúia. Retrieved on: April 19, 2019 from La Guía: educacion.laguia2000.com.
2. "The Reason for Repetition: How Repetition Helps Us Learn" in: Medium. Retrieved on: April 19, 2019 from Medium: medium.com.
3. "Repetition" in: Principles of Learning. Retrieved on: April 19, 2019 from Principles of Learning: principlesoflearning.wordpress.com.
4. "Repetition and learning" in: Encyclopeida. Retrieved on: April 19, 2019 from Encyclopedia: encyclopedia.com.
5. "Types of learning" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: April 19, 2019 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org.