Desirable Difficulties & Self-Explanation: Learning Strategies & Cognitive Effects

What is the principle of 'Desirable Difficulties'?

It refers to the idea that making learning slightly more challenging can improve understanding and long-term retention.

Who coined the term 'Desirable Difficulties'?

Psychologist Robert A. Bjork, with the help of Elizabeth Ligon Bjork.

What is the core idea behind 'Desirable Difficulties'?

Learning is most effective when it requires effort; easy tasks are easier to forget.

What did the 2008 study by Kornell and Bjork reveal about learning conditions?

Interleaved learning (mixing different artists' paintings) led to better performance than blocked learning (same artist's paintings together).

What does blocking in learning help participants with?

Finding similarities within an artist's style.

What advantage does interleaving provide in learning?

It helps in finding both differences and similarities among styles, enhancing overall understanding.

What was the outcome of the beanbag study by Bjork?

Children who practiced throwing from varying distances performed better than those who practiced from a fixed distance.

What does variation in practice lead to, according to the beanbag study?

Stronger performance and deeper learning.

What are some methods to implement desirable difficulties in learning?

Mixing different types of practice problems, using recall practices, and spacing out study sessions.

What is one pro of implementing desirable difficulties?

It promotes active learning and improves long-term retention.

What is a con of desirable difficulties?

It can lead to short-term frustration and may be time-consuming.

How does studying in different environments affect learning?

It has been shown to improve learning outcomes.

What is a key takeaway regarding effort in learning?

Learning sticks when it is effortful but manageable.

What is more effective than rereading for retention?

Retrieval practice, such as recalling information before checking notes.

What should learners be cautious of regarding their perceived learning?

Illusions of learning; ease does not equal mastery.

What is a recommended practice for studying effectively?

Space out study sessions and interleave related topics or skills.

What does the principle of desirable difficulty suggest about practice conditions?

Varying practice conditions builds flexible skills.

What is a strategy to avoid overwhelming learners?

Maintain clear goals, short repetitions, and provide quick feedback.

What is the relationship between effort and learning retention?

Effortful learning leads to better retention and understanding.

What is the explanation effect?

The benefit gained when individuals explain ideas or concepts to themselves to enhance learning.

What is the self-explanation effect?

The phenomenon where explaining material to oneself improves understanding and memory of new concepts.

What does the illusion of explanatory depth refer to?

A psychological phenomenon where individuals believe they understand something in greater detail than they actually do until asked to explain it.

How does explaining concepts help identify knowledge gaps?

If an individual cannot explain a concept, it indicates a lack of understanding of that material.

What are the key benefits of self-explaining?

Deeper learning, longer memory retention, and enhanced critical thinking.

What was the research question of Chi et al. (1994)?

How does self-explaining affect understanding and memory of new concepts?

What were the two groups in Chi et al.'s study?

Prompted group (explained after each sentence) and unprompted group (read the text twice).

What was the overall gain for the prompted group in Chi et al.'s study?

32% improvement.

What was the overall gain for the unprompted group in Chi et al.'s study?

22% improvement.

What is the significance of high explainers in Chi et al.'s findings?

High explainers constructed accurate mental models, while low explainers retained fragmented or incorrect information.

What does the term 'knowledge by proxy' mean?

The unconscious assumption that because someone else understands a concept, we do too.

What was the focus of Rozenblit & Keil's (2002) study?

To demonstrate the illusion of explanatory depth by having participants explain everyday mechanics.

What were the results of Rozenblit & Keil's study?

Participants' perceived understanding decreased after attempting to explain how items worked.

How can explanations shape beliefs?

Explaining ideas can change confidence in understanding and reshape beliefs by revealing knowledge gaps.

What was the method used in Sloman and Vives (2022) study?

Participants rated their position and understanding of political policies, then explained how the policies worked.

What were the results of Sloman and Vives' study?

Perceived understanding decreased, and participants' views became more moderate after explaining.

What is the phonological loop?

A component of working memory that deals with verbal and auditory information.

What is the phonological similarity effect?

A phenomenon where recall is worse for lists of similar-sounding items.

What is articulatory suppression?

The process of repeating words aloud while trying to remember a list, which occupies the phonological store.

What is the word length effect?

The tendency to remember shorter words better than longer words.

What is the irrelevant speech effect?

The phenomenon where background speech interferes with the processing of verbal information.

What is the impact of background noise on studying?

Quiet environments are best for studying; background noise can increase errors.