Abstract: The influence of the different superficial similarities between the new problem andthe earlier example, with or without the same principle, on the analogy transfer werestudied. In Experiment 1, the subjects were asked to leam the examples on theprobability and solve the new problems which were similar in varying degree insuperficial contents with the exampes. The result showed:(1)The superficial similaritieshad great advance in solving the new problem when the new problem and the earierexample had the same principle. The similarity in superficial line would accelerate thesubjects to classify the new problem, and the similarity in superficial correspondencewould ascelerate the subjects to make correct use of the formula. (2)When the newproblem and the earier example had different principle, the similarities in thesuperficial contents of both would have a negative transfer in classifying the newproblem. In Experiment 2, the subjects were given a cue to pay attention to theprinciple of the problems before they solved the new problems. The results showedthat the subects would be accelerated to cap on the inner analogy and raise theirperformance. According to the results, it was proved preliminarily that it was animportant factor influencing the level of analogy transfer whether the subjects had thetendency to analogizing ascording to the inner principle.

Key words: earlier example, analogy transfer, superficial similarity, superficial analogy