Two experiments examined the interrelationship of subject-matter knowledge, interest, and recall in the field of human immunology/human biology and assessed cross-domain performance in the field of physics. Framed by a stage model of domain learning, cluster-analytic methods were used to group individuals on the basis of their performance on cognitive and affective measures in immunology. Resulting cluster profiles were compared with predictions expected from the stage model. Performance for students in these clusters was compared with their performance on similar measures in the field of physics. In Experiment 1, 30 premedical students and 17 graduate students in educational psychology served as participants. Results revealed 3 unique clusters of students that tended to conform to predictions of the domain learning model. Individuals' knowledge, interest, and recall of immunology generally paralleled their performance in the domain of physics. Experiment 2 sought to test and extend the findings of the initial experiment. Participants were 78 undergraduate students in education. Although 4 clusters emerged, patterns in knowledge, interest, and recall were similar to those revealed in Experiment 1.

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This research examined the influence of subject-matter knowledge on students’ recall of and interest in scientific exposition. Two forms of subject-matter knowledge were assessed: topic knowledge (i.e., specific subject-matter knowledge referenced in text) and domain knowledge (i.e., knowledge pertinent to a particular field of study). Two hundred and nine college students read two popular-press passages from the domain of physics. Tests of topic knowledge and domain knowledge were administered to students prior to reading the passages. During reading, students rated how interesting they thought each passage and each of its paragraphs were. After reading, students completed a recall measure. Regression analyses showed that subject-matter knowledge, particularly domain knowledge, predicted both recall and interest. Findings tend to support a three-stage model of domain learning that proposes an interactive picture of student knowledge, recall, and interest. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

The ABP difference after exercise is a function of initial values such that groups with the highest baseline BP experience the greatest postexercise ABP reductions. The ABP dynamic exercise studies raise important methodological considerations that should be attended to in future work.