Case study - the retrieval-practice effect

What was the aim of the retrieval practice study conducted at Washington University

• To investigate whether rereading or retrieval practice is more effective at improving long-term retention

What did participants do in the SSSS condition

• They read a 250-word science passage four times over four 5-minute blocks (about 14 times total)

What did participants do in the SSST condition

• They read the 250-word science passage three times (about 10 times total) and completed one 5-minute recall test

What did participants do in the STTT condition

• They read the passage once (about 3.5 times) and then spent three blocks trying to recall the content

What were the short-term results of the study (after 5 minutes)

• Participants who reread the passage more (SSSS group) recalled more information shortly after learning

What were the long-term results of the study (after one week)

• Participants who practiced retrieval (especially STTT group) recalled significantly more information after one week

  

What is the "retrieval-practice effect"

• The phenomenon where effortfully recalling information strengthens memory traces, improving long-term retention

Why is retrieval practice more effective than rereading for long-term memory

• Because repeated retrieval re-encodes the memory, making it more durable and easier to access later

What does the study suggest about using rereading as a study method

• Rereading may help in the short term but is less effective for retaining information long term