After opening with a 13-page review of the literature, the document's main emphasis is on the three experiments included in this report. The specific rationale, procedures, and results of the three studies comprise the major portion of the document. The general purpose of Experiment 1 was to ascertain the effects of prior relevant subject matter knowledge, differentially structured introductory learning materials, and differentially sequenced learning tasks on learning acquisition and transfer. Experiment 2 determined the extent to which self-regard and learning performance are influenced by the type and extent of feedback received during stages of a mathematical learning activity. Differential performance by men and women was also investigated. The purpose of Experiment 3 was to find the effects of presenting sets of introductory mathematical learning materials which are differentially structured with respect to a concrete-abstract dimension. The effects of the adult learner's subject matter background and sex on learning and transfer were also investigated. The results of the three experiments are presented graphically and discussed in detail. Included also are a 39-item bibliography and seven appendixes containing pretests, posttests, and a personal significance scale. (BP)