The Guardian – Tom Stafford
“A few classic studies help to define the way we think about the science of learning. A classic study isn’t classic just because it uncovered a new fact, but because it neatly demonstrates a profound truth about how we learn – often at the same time showing up our unjustified assumptions about how our minds work. A classic study defines where research will go next – whether to confirm, disprove or qualify the original finding – and helps us to reorganise our learning to be more effective. I’m a psychologist, so you won’t be surprised that my choice of classic studies concern the mental processes rather than the social processes involved in learning. Other people might pick a different five studies, but these are mine.”(more)