Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2009):

Unsuccessful retrieval attempts enhance subsequent learning.

Full Abstract

Taking tests enhances learning. But what happens when one cannot answer a test question-does an unsuccessful retrieval attempt impede future learning or enhance it? The authors examined this question using materials that ensured that retrieval attempts would be unsuccessful. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants were asked fictional general-knowledge questions (e.g., "What peace treaty ended the Calumet War?"). In Experiments 3-6, participants were shown a cue word (e.g., whale) and were asked to guess a weak associate (e.g., mammal); the rare trials on which participants guessed the correct response were excluded from the analyses. In the test condition, participants attempted to answer the question before being shown the answer; in the read-only condition, the question and answer were presented together. Unsuccessful retrieval attempts enhanced learning with both types of materials. These results demonstrate that retrieval attempts enhance future learning; they also suggest that taking challenging tests-instead of avoiding errors-may be one key to effective learning.

Author information

Author/s: Kornell, Nate (N); Hays, Matthew Jensen (MJ); Bjork, Robert A (RA);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. nkornell(-atsign-)ucla.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 35 (issue 4) : pp 989-98

Dates: Created 2009/07/09; Completed 2009/08/25;

PMID: 19586265, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/25/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attention Humans Mental Recall - physiology Neuropsychological Tests

Neuropsychological Tests Reaction Time - physiology Recognition (Psychology) Serial Learning - physiology

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