Linear and branching formats in culture assimilator training

The task of persons trained for interaction in a new cultural environment is conceived of as a decision-making task where the trainee generates and evaluates alternative acts. Different structures for presenting training materials may foster development of internalized standards for generation and evaluation of alternative acts to different degrees. Tue present study compares a linear with a branching structure. The linear structure was found to (1) require more time than the branching structure, (2) result in fewer correct solutions of relatively easy training items, and (3) result in more correct solutions of relatively difficult training items.