ABSTRACT
As noted in other chapters in this volume (e.g., Chapters 1, 3, 11, and 13), the extant empirical research on skill decay is limited. It is therefore not surprising to find a near absence of literature devoted to enhancing skill retention on cognitively complex tasks during periods of nonuse. One possible method of enhancing the retention of trained skills during a period of nonuse is repeating the initial training some time during the nonuse period (tantamount to shortening the nonuse interval). Although hands-on retraining may certainly enhance retention (Schendel and Hagman, 1982), employing such a program could be cost prohibitive. Research on alternative refresher training interventions that do not involve hands-on practice is limited and researchers and training professionals alike have little empirical guidance upon which to base the design of such refresher training programs.
