Negative Transfer is defined as:

Negative Transfer is defined as:

• A. When a previously learned skill benefits another skill
• B. When a previously learned skill impedes the performance of another skill
• C. When a previously learned skill has no impact on the learning of a future skill
• D. When a skill is learned independently of prior experiences

Answer: (B)

Negative transfer happens when something you’ve already learned gets in the way of learning or performing a new skill. The old motor patterns and rules from the first skill can become automatic and conflict with the demands of the new task, so performance drops or errors occur early on as you try to adjust. For example, a student who learned to throw with a particular overhand pattern in one sport may struggle when learning a different throwing action that uses a different arm slot or timing—the familiar habit competes with the new technique until practice reshapes the movement. Likewise, a runner who has been taught a heel-strike pattern might find it harder to adopt a midfoot or forefoot strike required by a different running style. This is why the statement describes negative transfer as a previously learned skill impeding the performance of another skill. It’s not about a skill helping another (positive transfer), or having no impact (no transfer), or learning something completely anew without any influence from prior experiences (independent learning).

Negative transfer happens when something you’ve already learned gets in the way of learning or performing a new skill. The old motor patterns and rules from the first skill can become automatic and conflict with the demands of the new task, so performance drops or errors occur early on as you try to adjust.

For example, a student who learned to throw with a particular overhand pattern in one sport may struggle when learning a different throwing action that uses a different arm slot or timing—the familiar habit competes with the new technique until practice reshapes the movement. Likewise, a runner who has been taught a heel-strike pattern might find it harder to adopt a midfoot or forefoot strike required by a different running style.

This is why the statement describes negative transfer as a previously learned skill impeding the performance of another skill. It’s not about a skill helping another (positive transfer), or having no impact (no transfer), or learning something completely anew without any influence from prior experiences (independent learning).