Testing the retrieval effort hypothesis: Does greater difficulty correctly recalling information lead to higher levels of memory?

@article{Pyc2009TestingTR,
  title={Testing the retrieval effort hypothesis: Does greater difficulty correctly recalling information lead to higher levels of memory?},
  author={Mary A. Pyc and Katherine A. Rawson},
  journal={Journal of Memory and Language},
  year={2009},
  volume={60},
  pages={437-447}
}
  • M. Pyc, K. Rawson
  • Published 1 May 2009
  • Psychology
  • Journal of Memory and Language
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410 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
37
Background Citations
201
Methods Citations
52
Results Citations
46

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410 Citations

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Does Item Difficulty Affect the Magnitude of the Retrieval Practice Effect? An Evaluation of the Retrieval Effort Hypothesis
TLDR
According to the retrieval effort hypothesis (REH), difficult items require more retrieval effort than easier items and, consequently, should benefit more from retrieval practice.
Effects of criterion level on associative memory: Evidence for associative asymmetry
Confidence in accuracy moderates the benefits of retrieval practice
TLDR
In two experiments, the effectiveness of retrieval was affected by subjects’ confidence in their retrieval success, and the retrieval practice only facilitates the retention of correct answers with high confidence.
Retrieval practice enhances the accessibility but not the quality of memory
TLDR
Rec retrieval practice increases the probability of successful memory retrieval but does not improve memory quality, and three experiments using a mixture modeling approach provide a measure of both the probabilities of recall and the quality of the recalled memories.
Repeated retrieval practice and item difficulty: Does criterion learning eliminate item difficulty effects?
TLDR
Although successful retrieval enhanced memory for both difficult and easy items, equating retrieval success during practice did not eliminate normative item difficulty differences.
Examining the episodic context account: does retrieval practice enhance memory for context?
TLDR
The results suggest that the context reinstated during retrieval practice is limited in nature, and aspects of the context that are not essential to retrieval of the item are not strengthened by retrieval practice.
Benefits of Accumulating Versus Diminishing Cues in Recall.
How Retrieval Attempts Affect Learning: A Review and Synthesis
Are judgments of learning made after correct responses during retrieval practice sensitive to lag and criterion level effects?
TLDR
Evaluated the extent to which judgments of learning made after correct responses are sensitive to factors that moderate retrieval practice effects, as well as which cues influence JOLs under these conditions, and indicated that retrieval fluency and metacognitive beliefs about criterion level—but not lag—influenced J OLs.
The role of retrieval mode and retrieval orientation in retrieval practice: insights from comparing recognition memory testing formats and restudying
TLDR
It is confirmed that initial testing promotes later retrieval relative to restudying, and it is suggested that adopting pre-retrieval processing in the forms of retrieval mode and retrieval orientation might contribute to these memory enhancements.
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Results suggest that dropout can be a more efficient learning schedule for students than can conventional schedules of practice, and it was particularly effective for learning initially incorrect items.
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Once material has been learned to a criterion of one perfect trial, further study within the same session constitutes overlearning. Although overlearning is a popular learning strategy, its effect on…
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