Learning: Distributed Practice Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is spaced repetition?

Studying the same material multiple times in a single session

Alternating study material in briefer sessions over a longer period of time (correct)

Learning new information only once

Reviewing material after a short interval

Spaced repetition is not proven to be effective for retention.

False

What is the spacing effect?

Study - inter-study interval (I.S.I.) - re-study - retention period - test

What is the lagging effect?

Study - long I.S.I. - re-study - retention Signup and view all the answers

What is the general term for Lag effect and Spacing effect?

Distributed Practice Signup and view all the answers

What does distributed practice define?

Fixed amount of study time over various intervals Signup and view all the answers

What did Rawson & Kitsch (2005) test?

Learning scientific texts with control, massed, and distributed conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Rhorer & Taylor's (2006) lab study?

Spaced learners scored significantly better after 4 weeks. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kornell (2009) find regarding spaced vs. massed learning?

Masses performed generally worse than spaced. Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of Sobel, Cepeda & Kapler's (2011) real-world study?

5th graders learning vocabulary with distributed vs. massed conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kuepper-Tetzel, Erdfelder, & Dickhäuser (2014) study in real-world context?

6th graders learning German-English pairings with varying I.S.I. Signup and view all the answers

What are the theoretical explanations for distributed practice?

Encoding/contextual variability theory and study phase retrieval theory. Signup and view all the answers

What is encoding/contextual variability theory?

Increased successful retrieval due to increased matching probability. Signup and view all the answers

What does study phase retrieval theory suggest?

If during the second study interval, the first study session is retrieved from long-term memory, performance improves. Signup and view all the answers

What did Taylor & Rohrer (2009) research about interleaved study?

Object faces/sides/angles remembered better in distributed practice. Signup and view all the answers

What is good rehearsal?

Proper dispersal Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Spaced Repetition

Involves alternating study material in shorter sessions over extended periods.
Proven to be doubly effective for retention.

Spacing Effect

Refers to the interval between study sessions (inter-study interval, I.S.I.) influencing retention and test performance.

Lagging Effect

Characterized by a long inter-study interval (I.S.I.) followed by re-study, impacting retention rates.

Distributed Practice

General term encompassing both lag effect and spacing effect, emphasizing learning over various intervals.

Definition of Distributed Practice

Involves allocating a fixed amount of study time distributed across different intervals.

Research Findings

Rawson & Kitsch (2005): In experiments with scientific texts, massed study showed better immediate test results compared to distributed practice with a one-week I.S.I.
Rhorer & Taylor (2006): Spaced learners tested better after four weeks compared to massed learners, who performed slightly better in immediate tests.
Kornell (2009): Stacked cards learned in a spaced fashion resulted in better retention after a day compared to massed sessions.
Sobel, Cepeda & Kapler (2011): 5th graders learning vocabulary performed better with spaced practice compared to massed practice with a shorter inter-study interval.
Kuepper-Tetzel et al. (2014): 6th graders learning German-English pairs showed best results with a 1-day I.S.I., tested 7/35 days later.

Theoretical Explanations for Distributed Practice

Encoding/Contextual Variability Theory (Glenberg, 1979): Successful retrieval improves with practice and longer intervals, increasing context association.
Study Phase Retrieval Theory (Thios & D'Agostino, 1976): Retrieval during a second study session enhances recall for the final test, contingent on effortful practice.

Additional Findings

Taylor & Rhoder (2009): Interleaved study showed that distributed practice yielded more consistent long-term retention compared to mass study.

Conclusion on Good Rehearsal

Effective rehearsal is synonymous with proper dispersal of study sessions.

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Description

Test your knowledge on spaced repetition and the spacing effect with these flashcards. This quiz covers key concepts related to effective study techniques and retention strategies. Challenge yourself to improve your understanding of distributed practice.