Distributed Practice in Verbal Recall Tasks: A review and Quantitative Synthesis

Authors

Nicholas J. Cepeda, University of Colorado
Harold Pashler, University of California
Edward Vul, University of California
John T. Wixted, University of South Florida
Doug Rohrer, University of South FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2006

Abstract

The authors performed a meta-analysis of the distributed practice effect to illuminate the effects of temporal variables that have been neglected in previous reviews. This review found 839 assessments of distributed practice in 317 experiments located in 184 articles. Effects of spacing (consecutive massed presentations vs. spaced learning episodes) and lag (less spaced vs. more spaced learning episodes) were examined, as were expanding interstudy interval (ISI) effects. Analyses suggest that ISI and retention interval operate jointly to affect final-test retention; specifically, the ISI producing maximal retention increased as retention interval increased. Areas needing future research and theoretical implications are discussed.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Psychological Bulletin, v. 132, issue, 3, p. 354-380

Scholar Commons Citation

Cepeda, Nicholas J.; Pashler, Harold; Vul, Edward; Wixted, John T.; and Rohrer, Doug, "Distributed Practice in Verbal Recall Tasks: A review and Quantitative Synthesis" (2006). Psychology Faculty Publications. 1771.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/1771