Which type of practice is less effective when motivation is high?

Massed practice refers to a training technique where the amount of practice is concentrated in a single session with little to no rest intervals. When motivation is high, learners may feel inclined to engage in extensive practice sessions without breaks, which can lead to fatigue and decreased effectiveness in skill acquisition or retention. High motivation can often lead individuals to overpractice in this manner, which is less effective compared to other practices.

In contrast, distributed practice, which involves spreading out practice sessions over time with breaks in between, enhances learning and retention. Variable practice, which introduces variations in the tasks being practiced, also benefits from high motivation by keeping the practice engaging and challenging. Deliberate practice requires focused effort on improving specific aspects of performance, which can be enhanced by motivation, allowing individuals to push through challenges and refine their skills.

Thus, massed practice can actually hinder the learning process when the motivation is high, as it may encourage excessive practice without adequate rest, ultimately resulting in physical and cognitive fatigue, less effective learning, and potentially diminished skill transfer.