Testing learning theories: the NUL hypothesis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the spirit of Scrooge and the Grinch, I describe the nasty unpalatable learning (NUL) hypothesis as a new theory of learning. This is an exercise to explore how difficult it would be to develop a new learning theory by reversing the social and altruistic tenets of most existing learning theories. THE NUL HYPOTHESIS: The NUL hypothesis has four propositions. These are: (1) the value of rote learning; (2) the usefulness of authority figures in teaching within a clear hierarchy; (3) the use of fear in teaching, and (4) the value of internal consistency without any necessary connection to the outside world. CONCLUSIONS: The NUL hypothesis may promote reflection not only on the construction of learning theories, but also on the design of critical experiments. It also seems to imply that efficiency may be a better measure of learning success than effectiveness.