Name: Jenny Erickson
School of Psychology – Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Meeting
Date: Thursday, June 11th, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Virtual (Jenny Erickson Dissertation Proposal Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams)
Dissertation Committee Chair/Advisor:
Phillip Ackerman, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech)
Dissertation Committee Members:
Chris Wiese, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech)
Rick Thomas, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech)
Mark Wheeler, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech)
Corey Tatel, Ph.D. (Gallup, Inc.)
Title: Procedural Skill Recovery After Nonuse: A Meta-Analytic Investigation
Abstract: Procedural skills (e.g., playing an instrument, suturing a wound, performing CPR) are often required to be performed after extended periods without practice. Although research shows that procedural skills decay over time, relatively little is known about how much skills can be recovered and what retraining approaches are most effective for helping people regain these skills. Some evidence suggests that previously learned skills can be reacquired more efficiently than they were initially learned, yet findings across research areas remain inconsistent. The success of skill reacquisition may depend on features of the learning process, the amount of initial skill acquisition, the length of nonuse, and characteristics of the task itself. The primary aim of the proposed project is to provide a comprehensive estimate of expected procedural skill recovery after a period of nonuse. A secondary aim is to identify the pattern of performance expected when individuals engage in multiple relearning opportunities and to examine factors that may influence recovery outcomes. To address these aims, the project will use a random-effects meta-analysis of empirical research on procedural skill recovery and performance 'savings' across disciplines. Meta-regression analyses will examine potential predictors of recovery and savings. The results of this research may allow professionals to better estimate retraining frequency and determine what types of retraining are necessary after a period of nonuse. This is particularly important for roles that involve infrequently used procedures, such as those in the military, medical, emergency response, and rescue service fields.