| The original series were learned in x seconds |
The corresponding derived series, in y seconds |
The latter, therefore, with a saving of z seconds |
| x= | y= | z= |
| 1191 | 1120 | 71 |
| 1191 | 1185 | 6 |
| 1237 | 1295 | ―58 |
| 1350 | 1306 | 44 |
| 1308 | 1260 | 48 |
| 1289 | 1158 | 131 |
| m 1261 | 1221 | 40 |
| x= | y= | z= |
| 1305 | 1180 | 125 |
| 1206 | 1205 | 1 |
| 1310 | 1426 | ―116 |
| 1163 | 1089 | 74 |
| 1272 | 1388 | ―116 |
| 1309 | 1305 | 4 |
| m 1261 | 1266 | ―5 |
By derivation of the transformed series by skipping 1, 2, 3, 7 intermediate syllables, the derived series were therefore learned with an average saving of 110, 79, 64, 40 seconds. On the contrary with derivation of the series by permutation of the syllables the learning required an average increase in expenditure of 5 seconds.
Taken as a whole, these last results exactly confirm, as can be seen, the result that was obtained at the beginning. The number of these experiments was proportionally small and, during the course of each experiment, there was complete exclusion of knowledge as to results. In spite of these facts and although the numbers, considered individually, seem to be distributed without regard to law, their grouping, when taken as a whole, is seen to be in conformity to a simple law. The fewer are the intervening members which separate two syllables of a series which has been learned by heart, the less is the resistance offered by these separated syllables to their being learned in a new order.
