Bothered by abstraction: The effect of expertise on knowledge transfer and subsequent novice performance

Hinds (2001) · Journal of Applied Psychology · Read the paper

Hinds, Patterson and Pfeffer used an electronic circuit-wiring task. In the first study experts instructing novices used more abstract and advanced statements and fewer concrete ones than beginners did. In the second, novices instructed by beginners did better on the target task and reported fewer problems with the instructions, while novices instructed by experts did better on a different task in the same domain. The authors read the second result as abstract concepts supporting transfer.

Hinds, Patterson and Pfeffer used an electronic circuit-wiring task. In the first study experts instructing novices used more abstract and advanced statements and fewer concrete ones than beginners did. In the second, novices instructed by beginners did better on the target task and reported fewer problems with the instructions, while novices instructed by experts did better on a different task in the same domain. The authors read the second result as abstract concepts supporting transfer.

Written from the abstract, journal record and library record, 2026-10-31.

What our sources record

Recorded when this source was checked, figures included, with page references and quotation marks removed.

Hinds, P. J., Patterson, M., & Pfeffer, J. (2001). Bothered by abstraction: The effect of expertise on knowledge transfer and subsequent novice performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(6), 1232-1243. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.86.6.1232 https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.6.1232