How Retrieval Attempts Affect Learning: A Review and Synthesis

@inproceedings{Kornell2016HowRA,
  title={How Retrieval Attempts Affect Learning: A Review and Synthesis},
  author={Nate Kornell and Kalif E. Vaughn},
  year={2016}
}
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65 Citations
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3
Background Citations
27
Methods Citations
7
Results Citations
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65 Citations

Retrieval Practice Benefits Deductive Inference
Retrieval practice has been shown to benefit learning. However, the benefit has sometimes been attenuated with more complex materials that require integrating multiple units of information.…
Benefits of memory retrieval for vocabulary learning: A neurocognitive perspective
The work described in this dissertation is an attempt to gain insight into practice conditions that lead to effective vocabulary learning in a foreign language, and in particular, into the benefits…
Retrieval Potentiates New Learning: A Theoretical and Meta-Analytic Review
TLDR
A quantitative review of the literature showed that testing reliably potentiates the future learning of new materials by increasing correct recall or by reducing erroneous intrusions, and several factors have a powerful impact on whether testing potentiates or impairs new learning.
The effect of unsuccessful retrieval on children's subsequent learning.
Prior episodic learning and the efficacy of retrieval practice
TLDR
Results support the hypothesis that the advantage of testing over restudy is independent of the degree of prior episodic learning, and they suggest that educators can apply cued-recall testing with the expectation that its efficacy is similar across varying levels of prior content learning.
The Direct Testing Effect Is Pervasive in Action Memory: Analyses of Recall Accuracy and Recall Speed
TLDR
Repeated retrieval practice, relative to repeated restudy and study-only practice, reduced the recall decrement over the long delay, and enhanced phrases’ recall speed already after 2 min, and this independently of type of encoding and recall test.
Memory updating after retrieval: when new information is false or correct
TLDR
This research suggests retrieval facilitates incorporation of new, related information, regardless of whether it is false or correct, as measured by later recall in a follow-up test.
The role of mediator strength in learning from retrieval.
Enhanced memory for context associated with corrective feedback: evidence for episodic processes in errorful learning
TLDR
A higher rate of memory accuracy was observed for context associated with corrective feedback relative to other conditions across all 3 experiments, consistent with the hypothesis that errorful learning involves episodic memory, not merely semantic mediation.
Adding the keyword mnemonic to retrieval practice: A potent combination for foreign language vocabulary learning?
TLDR
It is suggested that incorporating effective encoding techniques prior to retrieval practice could augment the effectiveness of retrieval practice, at least for vocabulary learning.
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References

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TLDR
It appears that retrieval attempts promote learning but retrieval success per se does not, and a 2-stage framework to explain the benefits of retrieval is proposed.
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The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention
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TLDR
It is demonstrated that retrieval attempts enhance future learning; it is suggested that taking challenging tests-instead of avoiding errors-may be one key to effective learning.
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TLDR
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TLDR
These findings may give comfort to educators who worry that asking a question or giving a test, on which students inevitably make mistakes, impairs learning if feedback is not immediate, and suggest that there is a consensus in the literature thus far: Questions with rich semantic content enhance subsequent learning even when feedback is delayed, but less meaningful questions without an intrinsic answer enhance learning only when Feedback is immediate.
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TLDR
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TLDR
The results support the idea that a search set of candidates related to the retrieval cue is activated during retrieval and that this retrieval-specific activation can enhance subsequent encoding of those candidates.
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