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Retrieving information from memory, compared with different control conditions, improves subsequent retention of that information. Given the ubiquitous demonstration of this retrieval practice effect, researchers have asked whether such benefit is moderated by individual-difference variables. An implicit assumption in individual-difference research is that the retrieval practice effect at the participant level is reliable across participants. In this study, we tested this reliability assumption. In two sessions, 54 participants studied foreign-native word pairs, repeatedly restudied half of the word pairs, repeatedly retrieval-practised the other half, and, finally, took a final test for all pairs. Different word pairs were used in each session. We replicated the retrieval practice effect at the group level in Sessions 1 (d = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.27, 0.80]) and 2 (d = 0.79 [0.53, 1.05]). In addition, we found that the retrieval practice effect at the participant level was reliable over a 1-week span both for absolute agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = .33 [.12, .51], and for consistency estimates, ICC = .35 [.14, .53]. The result bridges a gap in the literature of individual differences on the retrieval practice effect. We suggest that future studies identify whether, and under which experimental conditions, the retrieval practice effect at the participant level may show even greater reliability estimates than the ones reported here. The finding may also pave the way for studies assessing whether the magnitude of the retrieval practice effect is domain-general or paradigm-specific.

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Abstract Attempting to recall previously encountered information by being tested or quizzed (retrieval practice: RP) enhances memory. In real classrooms, however, it is unclear when testing should take place (placement) in order to elicit better learning. We tested students using authentic undergraduate-course materials with two placements, followed by collective feedback: (a) at the end of the class in which content was taught; or (b) at the beginning of the next class. Re-teaching (RT) the same content through lecturer led-reviews at the same placements was used as a control condition. RP and RT plus feedback took 15 min of 100 min-long classes and were applied during 12 classes after which retention was assessed by exams. Participants were 114 students enrolled in a biweekly taught course. Testing (RP) once at the end of the same class in which content was taught boosted academic scores by around 10% compared to the other manipulations.

Resumen El intento de recordar la información presentada previamente mediante pruebas o cuestionarios (práctica de recuperación, RP) mejora la memoria. Sin embargo, en las clases reales no está claro en qué momento debe realizarse las pruebas para obtener un mejor aprendizaje. Probamos a los estudiantes utilizando materiales auténticos de cursos de licenciatura en dos momentos, seguidos de una retroalimentación colectiva: (a) al final de la clase en la que se enseñó el contenido; o (b) al principio de la siguiente clase. La reenseñanza (RT) del mismo contenido a través de revisiones dirigidas por el profesor en el mismo momento se utilizó como condición de control. La RP y la RT más la retroalimentación tomaron 15 minutos de clases de 100 minutos de duración y se aplicaron durante 12 clases después de las cuales la retención fue evaluada por exámenes. Los participantes fueron 114 estudiantes inscritos en un curso impartido cada dos semanas. Las pruebas (RP) realizadas una vez al final de la misma clase en la que el contenido se enseñó, aumentó los resultados académicos en alrededor de un 10% en comparación con las otras manipulaciones.

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A large body of research shows that performing tests is more beneficial for the retention of studied materials than restudying those materials, a phenomenon termed "testing-effect". A contemporary debate on the testing effect literature concerns whether the benefits of tests are equivalent for individuals with different cognitive skills, as the capacity to decode written words, for example. In the current study, we approached this issue in two experiments by examining whether testing is equally beneficial for children with diverse visual word decoding skills. To achieve this goal, we recruited sixth and fourth grade children (experiments 1 and 2, respectively) and administered a reading aloud task to assess their visual word recognition skills, and administered a memory task about an encyclopedic text to promote the testing effect. Memory for the restudied/tested contents of the encyclopedic text were probed after a seven-day interval, and although children from both experiments showed robust testing effects, such effects were not associated with their visual word decoding skills. These findings suggest that children with diverse word decoding skills can be benefited by retrieval practice.

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Remembering recently studied materials (i.e., retrieval practice) is more beneficial for learning than restudying these materials. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether retrieval practice benefits learning for individuals with Down syndrome. METHODS: Eighteen individuals with Down syndrome (mean age=21.61 years, SD=5.93) performed a task entailing a first read of an encyclopedic text covering a series of target words. After reading the text twice, participants recalled half of the target words (retrieval practice), and reread the other half (restudy). After 48 hours, participants answered a multiple-choice test including all target words. Subsequently, WASI's Vocabulary and Matrix reasoning subtests were administered to estimate intelligence. RESULTS: The benefit of retrieval practice for learning was numerically greater than the benefit of restudy, although this advantage did not reach statistical significance. Inspection of individual data suggested that the benefit of retrieval practice was greater than the benefit of restudy for the majority of the participants, independently of the participants' vocabulary or reasoning abilities. CONCLUSION: Although more research is needed before retrieval practice can be recommended as a learning strategy for individuals with Down syndrome, the data suggest that retrieval practice can be a useful teaching tool for at least part of this population.

Lembrar materiais recentemente estudados (i.e., prática da recuperação) é melhor para a aprendizagem do que reestudar esses materiais. OBJETIVO: Investigar se a prática da recuperação beneficia a aprendizagem de indivíduos com síndrome de Down. MÉTODOS: Dezoito indivíduos com síndrome de Down (idade média=21,61, DP=5,93) leram um texto enciclopédico com várias palavras-alvo. Depois de o texto ser lido duas vezes, metade das palavras-alvo (prática de recuperação) foi relembrada, e metade foi relida (reestudo). Após 48 horas, os participantes responderam a um teste de múltipla escolha incluindo todas as palavras-alvo. A inteligência dos participantes foi avaliada pelos subtestes Raciocínio matricial e Vocabulário do WASI. RESULTADOS: O benefício da prática de recuperação para o aprendizado foi melhor quando comparado ao reestudo, embora essa diferença não tenha alcançado significância estatística. A inspeção de dados individuais sugeriu que o benefício da prática de recuperação foi melhor que o benefício do reestudo para a maioria dos participantes, independentemente do vocabulário ou capacidade de raciocínio. CONCLUSÃO: Embora mais pesquisas sejam necessárias para recomendar o uso dessa estratégia de aprendizado para essa população, os dados sugerem que a prática de recuperação pode ser uma ferramenta de ensino útil, para pelo menos parte dessa população.

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ABSTRACT: Remembering recently studied materials (i.e., retrieval practice) is more beneficial for learning than restudying these materials. Objective: To investigate whether retrieval practice benefits learning for individuals with Down syndrome. Methods: Eighteen individuals with Down syndrome (mean age=21.61 years, SD=5.93) performed a task entailing a first read of an encyclopedic text covering a series of target words. After reading the text twice, participants recalled half of the target words (retrieval practice), and reread the other half (restudy). After 48 hours, participants answered a multiple-choice test including all target words. Subsequently, WASI's Vocabulary and Matrix reasoning subtests were administered to estimate intelligence. Results: The benefit of retrieval practice for learning was numerically greater than the benefit of restudy, although this advantage did not reach statistical significance. Inspection of individual data suggested that the benefit of retrieval practice was greater than the benefit of restudy for the majority of the participants, independently of the participants' vocabulary or reasoning abilities. Conclusion: Although more research is needed before retrieval practice can be recommended as a learning strategy for individuals with Down syndrome, the data suggest that retrieval practice can be a useful teaching tool for at least part of this population.

RESUMO: Lembrar materiais recentemente estudados (i.e., prática da recuperação) é melhor para a aprendizagem do que reestudar esses materiais. Objetivo: Investigar se a prática da recuperação beneficia a aprendizagem de indivíduos com síndrome de Down. Métodos: Dezoito indivíduos com síndrome de Down (idade média=21,61, DP=5,93) leram um texto enciclopédico com várias palavras-alvo. Depois de o texto ser lido duas vezes, metade das palavras-alvo (prática de recuperação) foi relembrada, e metade foi relida (reestudo). Após 48 horas, os participantes responderam a um teste de múltipla escolha incluindo todas as palavras-alvo. A inteligência dos participantes foi avaliada pelos subtestes Raciocínio matricial e Vocabulário do WASI. Resultados: O benefício da prática de recuperação para o aprendizado foi melhor quando comparado ao reestudo, embora essa diferença não tenha alcançado significância estatística. A inspeção de dados individuais sugeriu que o benefício da prática de recuperação foi melhor que o benefício do reestudo para a maioria dos participantes, independentemente do vocabulário ou capacidade de raciocínio. Conclusão: Embora mais pesquisas sejam necessárias para recomendar o uso dessa estratégia de aprendizado para essa população, os dados sugerem que a prática de recuperação pode ser uma ferramenta de ensino útil, para pelo menos parte dessa população.

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Resenha do livro: “Make it Stick: The science of successful learning” de Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, Mark A. McDaniel. Londres: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014 (AU)

Book review: “Make it Stick: The Science of successful learning”, by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, Mark A. McDaniel. London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014 (AU)

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Resenha do livro: "Make it Stick: The science of successful learning" de Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, Mark A. McDaniel. Londres: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014

Book review: "Make it Stick: The Science of successful learning", by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, Mark A. McDaniel. London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014

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