The testing effect (also known as retrieval practice, active recall, practice testing, or test-enhanced learning) [1] [2] [3] suggests long-term memory is increased when part of the learning period is devoted to retrieving information from memory. [4] It is different from the more general practice effect , defined in the APA Dictionary of Psychology as "any change or improvement that results from practice or repetition of task items or activities." [5]
Cognitive psychologists are working with educators to look at how to take advantage of tests—not as an assessment tool, but as a teaching tool [6] since testing prior knowledge is more beneficial for learning when compared to only reading or passively studying material (even more so when the test is more challenging for memory). [7]
Before much experimental evidence had been collected, the utility of testing was already evident to some perceptive observers including Francis Bacon who discussed it as a learning strategy as early as 1620. [8]
"Hence if you read a piece of text through twenty times, you will not learn it by heart so easily as if you read it ten times while attempting to recite it from time to time and consulting the text when your memory fails."
Towards the end of the 17th Century, John Locke made a similar observation regarding the importance of repeated retrieval for retention in his 1689 book "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding".
"But concerning the ideas themselves, it is easy to remark, that those that are oftenest refreshed (amongst which are those that are conveyed into the mind by more ways than one) by a frequent return of the objects or actions that produce them, fix themselves best in the memory, and remain clearest and longest there." [9]
Towards the end of the 19th century, Harvard psychologist William James described the testing effect in the following section of his 1890 book "The Principles of Psychology"
"A curious peculiarity of our memory is that things are impressed better by active than by passive repetition. I mean that in learning (by heart, for example), when we almost know the piece, it pays better to wait and recollect by an effort from within, than to look at the book again. If we recover the words in the former way, we shall probably know them the next time; if in the latter way, we shall very likely need the book once more." [10]
The first documented empirical studies on the testing effect were published in 1909 by Edwina E. Abbott [11] [12] which was followed up by research into the transfer and retrieval of prior learning. [13] [14] In his 1932 book Psychology of Study, C. A. Mace said:
"On the matter of sheer repetitive drill there is another principle of the highest importance: Active repetition is very much more effective than passive repetition. ... there are two ways of introducing further repetitions. We may re-read this list: this is passive repetition. We may recall it to mind without reference to the text before forgetting has begun: this is active repetition. It has been found that when acts of reading and acts of recall alternate, i.e., when every reading is followed by an attempt to recall the items, the efficiency of learning and retention is enormously enhanced." [15]
Studies in retrieval practice started in 1987 by John. L Richards, who published his findings in a newspaper in New York. [ citation needed ] Much of the confusion around early studies could have been due to constrained approaches not accounting for context. [16] In more recent research with contributions from Hal Pashler, Henry Roediger and many others, testing knowledge can produce better learning, [17] [18] [19] transfer, [20] and retrieval [21] results when compared to other forms of study [18] that often use recognition [22] like re-reading [23] or highlighting. [24]
In recent research, storage strength (how well an item is learned) and retrieval strength (how well an item can be retrieved) [25] have become separate measures for retrieval practice. [26] Retrieval strength (also known as recall accuracy) is typically higher for restudied words when tested immediately after practice, whereas tested words were higher as time moves on. [27] This suggests using tests is more beneficial for long-term memory and retrieval [28] [29] which some authors believe is due to limited retrieval success during practice [26] [27] [30] supporting the idea that tests are learning opportunities. [31]
Functional magnetic resonance imaging suggests that retrieval practice strengthens subsequent retention of learning through a "dual action" affecting the anterior and posterior hippocampus regions of the brain. [32] This could support findings that individual differences in personality traits or with working memory capacity, don't seem to have any negative impacts of the testing effect, [33] with a greater impact for lower ability individuals. [34]
Despite some doubting knowledge transfer across a topic when testing [35] with some studies showing contradictory evidence [36] suggesting recognition was better than recall, [37] inferential thinking has been supported [38] and the transfer of learning is at its strongest with application of theory to practice, inference questions, medical education, [39] and problems involving medical diagnosis. [40] The transfer can occur across domains, [16] paradigms, [41] and help retention for material not on a final test. [42] Using retrieval practices also produces less forgetting than studying and restudying [43] while helping to identify misconceptions and errors [44] [45] [46] with effects lasting years. [47]
Repeated testing have shown statistical significance [48] and results getting better than repeated studying [49] [50] which could be due to testing creating multiple retrieval routes for memory, [51] allowing individuals to form lasting connections between items, [52] or blocking information together [53] which can help with memory retention [54] and schema recall. [55] Using spaced repetition has shown an increase on the testing effect [56] [57] with a greater impact with a delay in testing, [58] but the delay could lead to forgetting [59] or retrieval-induced forgetting.
Delaying the test after a session can have a greater impact [60] so studying in the day should be tested in the evening with a delay, but studying in the evening should have an immediate test due the effect sleep has on memory. [61] Despite divided attention being thought to decrease the testing effect, if it is from a different medium it could enhance the effect. [36]
The rate of forgetting is not affected by the speed [62] or degree of learning [63] but by the type of practice involved. [60]
According to the retrieval effort hypothesis, "difficult but successful retrievals are better for memory than easier successful retrievals" which supports the idea of finding a desirable difficulty within the retrieval practice considering our memory biases. [25] Learning a language was better when using unfamiliar words compared to familiar words, supporting higher difficulty resulting in greater learning. [64] The difficulty relates to the likelihood of forgetting [65] as the harder it is to remember, the more likely you are to remember and retain the information [66] supporting the notion that more effort is required for longer lasting retention [67] similar to the depth of processing at encoding. [68] Therefore, lack of effort from students studying could be a factor that reduces its efficiency. [49]
Increased difficulty shows decreased initial performance but increased performance on harder tests in the future, so retention and transfer suffer less when training is difficult. [53] Even unsuccessful retrieval can enhance learning, [69] as creating the thought helps with retention [70] due to the generation effect. [71] [72] Like with processing time, it is the qualitative nature of the information that determines retention. [68]
Getting feedback helps with learning [73] but finding a desirable difficulty for the test combined with feedback [74] is more beneficial than studying or testing without feedback. [75] [76] The Read, Recite, Review method [77] has been proposed as a method to combine retrieval practice with feedback. [78]
The test format doesn't seem to impact the results as it is the process of retrieval that aids the learning [79] but transfer-appropriate processing suggests that if the encoding of information is through a format similar to the retrieval format then the test results are likely to be higher, with a mismatch causing lower results. [80] However, when short-answer tests or essays are used [81] [82] greater gains in results are seen when compared to multiple-choice test [83]
Cued recall can make retrieval easier [84] as it reduces the required retrieval strength from an individual which can help short term results, [85] but can hinder long term retrieval overtime due to reduced retrieval demand during practice. [86] Quicker learning can reduce the rate of forgetting for a short period of time, but the effect doesn't last as long as more effortful retrieval. [87] Cueing can be seen when encoding new information overlaps with prior knowledge making retrieval easier [88] [89] or from a visual or auditory aid.
Prior knowledge seems to increase the impact of retrieval practice, [90] but should not be seen as a boundary condition as individuals with higher prior knowledge and individuals with lower prior knowledge both benefit. [91] Pre-testing can be used to get greater results, [92] [93] and the post-testing can be used to facilitate learning and memory of newly studied information, known as the forward testing effect. [94] Pre-test or practice test accuracy doesn't predict post test results as time affects forgetting [95]
The pre-testing effect, also known as errorful generation or pre-questioning, is a related but distinct category where testing material before the material has been learned appears to lead to better subsequent learning performance than would have been the case without the pre-test, provided that feedback is given as to the correct answers once the pre-testing phase is completed or further study is undertaken. Pre-testing has been shown to aid learning in both laboratory. and classroom settings. [96] In terms of specific examples, pre-testing appears to be a beneficial strategy in language learning, [64] [53] science classrooms generally, [97] and specifically with lower ability learners in Chemistry. [98] Pre-testing also seems to be a good way of introducing a lecture series and reduces mind-wandering during lectures. [99] However, while some studies show that it does not seem to be as effective as post testing overall, [100] others show that it is at least as effective as post-testing. [101] The pre-testing effect does appear to be more target focused on the specific material to be learned and should not be seen as correlated with more generalised curiosity. [102] While the strategy has been demonstrated to have learning benefits across different age groups and subject matters, it also appears to be more suited for more concrete material such as learning facts and concepts. It can be used with a variety of materials, including reading passages, videos, and live lectures. [103]
When compared to concept mapping alone, retrieval practice is more beneficial, [104] despite students not seeing retrieval practice as a useful learning tool. [105] When combined, learner performance was increased, suggesting concept mapping is a tool that should be combined with retrieval practice [106] alongside other non-verbal responses. [107] Retrieval helps with mental organization [108] which can work well with concept mapping. Multimedia testing can be used [109] alongside flashcards as a method of retrieval practice but removing cards too early can result in lower long term retention. [110] Individuals may not correctly interpret the outcome of practice cards [111] contributing to dropped cards which impact future retrieval attempts [112] therefore resulting in lower results due to increased forgetting. [60]
It is advised that students, [113] people in care units [114] and teaching professionals [115] [116] [117] [118] use distributed [119] retrieval practice [120] with feedback to aid their studies. [121] Interleaved practice, self-explanation, [2] and elaborative interrogation [113] can be useful but need more research. [122] Summarization can be useful for individuals trained how to use to get the most from it. [123] Keyword mnemonics and imagery for text have been somewhat helpful but the effects are often short lived. [124] [113] However, if each of these methods are integrated with retrieval elements the testing effect is more likely to occur.
A list of benefits of retrieval practice. [125]
A meta-analysis found the following links between frequent low-stakes quizzes in real classes and improved student academic performance: [126]
Learning using retrieval practice appears to be one of the most effective methods for promoting transfer of learning. In particular the following three techniques have been identified as particularly beneficial for transfer especially when combined with feedback: i) Implementing broad rather than narrow retrieval exercises ii) Encouraging meaningful explanations of concepts or topics iii) Using a variety of complexity and formats with questions such as retrieval questions that require inference. [127]
Some researchers have applied aspects of cognitive load theory to suggest the testing effect may disappear with increasing task difficulty due to increased element interactivity. [128] This has been addressed in the literature with studies that show complex learning is benefitted by retrieval practice. [129] Further research has demonstrated that higher-order retrieval does not need to be based on a lower-level factual recall, and that from the beginning of the learning period, both should be combined for best effect. [130]
It has been suggested that as most studies on the impact of retrieval practice were conducted in WEIRD countries, this could cause a bias which should be explored in further studies. [118]
The forgetting curve hypothesizes the decline of memory retention in time. This curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. A related concept is the strength of memory that refers to the durability that memory traces in the brain. The stronger the memory, the longer period of time that a person is able to recall it. A typical graph of the forgetting curve purports to show that humans tend to halve their memory of newly learned knowledge in a matter of days or weeks unless they consciously review the learned material.
Spaced repetition is an evidence-based learning technique that is usually performed with flashcards. Newly introduced and more difficult flashcards are shown more frequently, while older and less difficult flashcards are shown less frequently in order to exploit the psychological spacing effect. The use of spaced repetition has been proven to increase the rate of learning.
The interference theory is a theory regarding human memory. Interference occurs in learning. The notion is that memories encoded in long-term memory (LTM) are forgotten and cannot be retrieved into short-term memory (STM) because either memory could interfere with the other. There is an immense number of encoded memories within the storage of LTM. The challenge for memory retrieval is recalling the specific memory and working in the temporary workspace provided in STM. Retaining information regarding the relevant time of encoding memories into LTM influences interference strength. There are two types of interference effects: proactive and retroactive interference.
The Decay theory is a theory that proposes that memory fades due to the mere passage of time. Information is therefore less available for later retrieval as time passes and memory, as well as memory strength, wears away. When an individual learns something new, a neurochemical "memory trace" is created. However, over time this trace slowly disintegrates. Actively rehearsing information is believed to be a major factor counteracting this temporal decline. It is widely believed that neurons die off gradually as we age, yet some older memories can be stronger than most recent memories. Thus, decay theory mostly affects the short-term memory system, meaning that older memories are often more resistant to shocks or physical attacks on the brain. It is also thought that the passage of time alone cannot cause forgetting, and that decay theory must also take into account some processes that occur as more time passes.
The picture superiority effect refers to the phenomenon in which pictures and images are more likely to be remembered than are words. This effect has been demonstrated in numerous experiments using different methods. It is based on the notion that "human memory is extremely sensitive to the symbolic modality of presentation of event information". Explanations for the picture superiority effect are not concrete and are still being debated, however an evolutionary explanation is that sight has a long history stretching back millions of years and was crucial to survival in the past, whereas reading is a relatively recent invention, and requires specific cognitive processes, such as decoding symbols and linking them to meaning.
The spacing effect demonstrates that learning is more effective when study sessions are spaced out. This effect shows that more information is encoded into long-term memory by spaced study sessions, also known as spaced repetition or spaced presentation, than by massed presentation ("cramming").
The Levels of Processing model, created by Fergus I. M. Craik and Robert S. Lockhart in 1972, describes memory recall of stimuli as a function of the depth of mental processing. More analysis produce more elaborate and stronger memory than lower levels of processing. Depth of processing falls on a shallow to deep continuum. Shallow processing leads to a fragile memory trace that is susceptible to rapid decay. Conversely, deep processing results in a more durable memory trace. There are three levels of processing in this model. Structural processing, or visual, is when we remember only the physical quality of the word E.g how the word is spelled and how letters look. Phonemic processing includes remembering the word by the way it sounds. E.G the word tall rhymes with fall. Lastly, we have semantic processing in which we encode the meaning of the word with another word that is similar or has similar meaning. Once the word is perceived, the brain allows for a deeper processing.
In psychology, memory inhibition is the ability not to remember irrelevant information. The scientific concept of memory inhibition should not be confused with everyday uses of the word "inhibition". Scientifically speaking, memory inhibition is a type of cognitive inhibition, which is the stopping or overriding of a mental process, in whole or in part, with or without intention.
The generation effect is a phenomenon whereby information is better remembered if it is generated from one's own mind rather than simply read. Researchers have struggled to account for why the generated information is better recalled than read information, but no single explanation has been sufficient to explain everything.
Robert Allen Bjork is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on human learning and memory and on the implications of the science of learning for instruction and training. He is the creator of the directed forgetting paradigm. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.
Henry L. "Roddy" Roediger III is an American psychology researcher in the area of human learning and memory. He rose to prominence for his work on the psychological aspects of false memories.
In psychology, context-dependent memory is the improved recall of specific episodes or information when the context present at encoding and retrieval are the same. In a simpler manner, "when events are represented in memory, contextual information is stored along with memory targets; the context can therefore cue memories containing that contextual information". One particularly common example of context-dependence at work occurs when an individual has lost an item in an unknown location. Typically, people try to systematically "retrace their steps" to determine all of the possible places where the item might be located. Based on the role that context plays in determining recall, it is not at all surprising that individuals often quite easily discover the lost item upon returning to the correct context. This concept is heavily related to the encoding specificity principle.
Emotion can have a powerful effect on humans and animals. Numerous studies have shown that the most vivid autobiographical memories tend to be of emotional events, which are likely to be recalled more often and with more clarity and detail than neutral events.
The Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm is a procedure in cognitive psychology used to study false memory in humans. The procedure was pioneered by James Deese in 1959, but it was not until Henry L. Roediger III and Kathleen McDermott extended the line of research in 1995 that the paradigm became popular. The procedure typically involves the oral presentation of a list of related words and then requires the subject to remember as many words from the list as possible. Typical results show that subjects recall a related but absent word, known as a 'lure', with the same frequency as other presented words. When asked about their experience after the test, about half of all participants report that they are sure that they remember hearing the lure, indicating a false memory – a memory for an event that never occurred.
The misinformation effect occurs when a person's recall of episodic memories becomes less accurate because of post-event information. The misinformation effect has been studied since the mid-1970s. Elizabeth Loftus is one of the most influential researchers in the field. One theory is that original information and the misleading information that was presented after the fact become blended together. Another theory is that the misleading information overwrites the original information. Scientists suggest that because the misleading information is the most recent, it is more easily retrieved.
Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) is a memory phenomenon where remembering causes forgetting of other information in memory. The phenomenon was first demonstrated in 1994, although the concept of RIF has been previously discussed in the context of retrieval inhibition.
Imagination inflation is a type of memory distortion that occurs when imagining an event that never happened increases confidence in the memory of the event.
Elaborative encoding is a mnemonic system that uses some form of elaboration, such as an emotional cue, to assist in the retention of memories and knowledge. In this system one attaches an additional piece of information to a memory task which makes it easier to recall. For instance, one may recognize a face easier if character traits are also imparted about the person at the same time.
Suparna Rajaram, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Stony Brook University, is an Indian-born cognitive psychologist and expert on memory and amnesia. Rajaram served as Chair of the Governing Board of the Psychonomic Society (2008) and as president of the Association for Psychological Science (2017–2018). Along with Judith Kroll and Randi Martin, Rajaram co-founded the organization Women in Cognitive Science in 2001, with the aim of improving the visibility of contributions of women to cognitive science. In 2019, she was an inaugural recipient of Psychonomic Society's Clifford T. Morgan Distinguished Leadership Award for significant contributions and sustained leadership in the discipline of cognitive psychology.
The forward testing effect, also known as test potentiated new learning, is a psychological learning theory which suggests that testing old information can improve learning of new information. Unlike traditional learning theories in educational psychology which have established the positive effect testing has when later attempting to retrieve the same information, the forward testing effect instead suggests that the testing experience itself possesses unique benefits which enhance the learning of new information. This memory effect is also distinct from the 'practice effect' which typically refers to an observed improvement which results from repetition and restudy, as the testing itself is considered as the catalyst for improved recall. Instead, this theory suggests that testing serves not only as a tool for assessment but as a learning tool which can aid in memory recall. The forward testing effect indicates that educators should encourage students to study using testing techniques rather than restudying information repeatedly.
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