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Retrieval practice / testing effect

15 papers

Evidence base for retrieval practice / testing effect — every paper below is DOI-verified so you can trace any claim back to its source.

How to apply

Retrieval practice — actively producing an answer from memory before re-reading it — is the single best-supported memory technique in the corpus. Dunlosky et al. (2013) rate practice testing one of only two "high utility" strategies; Adesope et al.

Papers


  1. Shana K. Carpenter, Steven C. Pan, Andrew C. Butler — **Year:** 2022
    2022DOI: 10.1038/s44159-022-00089-1
  2. Pooja K. Agarwal, Ludmila Nunes, Janell R. Blunt — **Year:** 2021
    2021DOI: 10.1007/s10648-021-09595-9
  3. Chunliang Yang, Liang Luo, Miguel A. Vadillo, Rongjun Yu, David R. Shanks — **Year:** 2021
    2021DOI: 10.1037/bul0000309
  4. Yana Weinstein, Christopher R. Madan, Megan Sumeracki — **Year:** 2018
    2018DOI: 10.1186/s41235-017-0087-y
  5. Steven C. Pan, Timothy C. Rickard — **Year:** 2018
    2018DOI: 10.1037/bul0000151
  6. Steven C. Pan, Timothy C. Rickard — **Year:** 2017
    2017DOI: 10.1037/xap0000124
  7. Olusola Adesope, Dominic A. Trevisan, NarayanKripa Sundararajan — **Year:** 2017
    2017DOI: 10.3102/0034654316689306
  8. Bernhard Pastötter, Karl-Heinz T. Bäuml — **Year:** 2014
    2014DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00286
  9. Christopher A. Rowland — **Year:** 2014
    2014DOI: 10.1037/a0037559
  10. Adam L. Putnam, Henry L. Roediger III — **Year:** 2013
    2013DOI: 10.3758/s13421-012-0245-x
  11. John Dunlosky, Katherine A. Rawson, Elizabeth J. Marsh, Mitchell J. Nathan, Daniel T. Willingham — **Year:** 2013
    2013DOI: 10.1177/1529100612453266
  12. Jeffrey D. Karpicke, Janell R. Blunt — **Year:** 2011
    2011DOI: 10.1126/science.1199327
  13. Henry L. Roediger III, Andrew C. Butler — **Year:** 2011
    2011DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2010.09.003
  14. Jeffrey D. Karpicke, Henry L. Roediger III — **Year:** 2008
    2008DOI: 10.1126/science.1152408
  15. Roediger H. L., Karpicke J. D. — **Year:** 2006
    2006DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01693.x

Audio companion script


This technique is called retrieval practice. Reach for it when you want to test yourself from memory instead of rereading the material. The idea is simple. You build a steady habit and let it do the work over time. It is backed by fifteen peer reviewed studies, so the advice rests on real evidence. Try it on your own material this week and notice how much more sticks.