In transfer of learning, which statement describes unfavorable transfer?

• A. Prior learning helps the new task.
• B. Prior learning hinders the new task.
• C. Prior learning has no effect.
• D. Prior learning makes the new task trivially easy.

Answer: (B)

Transfer of learning refers to how earlier training affects performance on a new task. Unfavorable transfer happens when prior learning gets in the way, causing more errors or slower progress because the old habits or cues clash with what the new task requires. In a military working dog setting, this might occur if a dog has learned a search pattern or a response cue that doesn’t fit the new task, so it applies the old method and struggles to adapt. That clash slows learning and reduces accuracy, which is exactly what unfavorable transfer describes. So the statement that best captures this idea is that prior learning hinders the new task. The other possibilities describe favorable transfer (learning helps), neutral transfer (no effect), or an unrealistically easy outcome, which doesn’t align with the idea of interference.