The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention

The current study investigates the effect of massed and spaced instruction on vocabulary recall and retention. To fulfill this objective, 75 Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners (16 to 19 years) took part in 15 sessions of 60 minutes. The participants were randomly divided into three experimental g...

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Main Authors: Ehsan Namaziandost, Murad Hassan Mohammed Sawalmeh, Masoumeh Izadpanah Soltanabadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1792261
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author Ehsan Namaziandost
Murad Hassan Mohammed Sawalmeh
Masoumeh Izadpanah Soltanabadi
author_facet Ehsan Namaziandost
Murad Hassan Mohammed Sawalmeh
Masoumeh Izadpanah Soltanabadi
author_sort Ehsan Namaziandost
collection DOAJ
description The current study investigates the effect of massed and spaced instruction on vocabulary recall and retention. To fulfill this objective, 75 Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners (16 to 19 years) took part in 15 sessions of 60 minutes. The participants were randomly divided into three experimental groups; a spaced distribution group (n = 25), a massed distribution group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). The massed distribution group had one intensive session on learning the target vocabulary; the spaced distribution group had three sessions at irregular time intervals, and the control group received no vocabulary-focused instruction. Using a before and after design, students were retested after 5 weeks. To collect data, a receptive vocabulary test was administered as both the pretest and the posttests. The results of One-way ANOVA indicated that the spaced distribution group significantly outperformed the massed distribution group on both immediate and delayed posttests. The results propose that EFL practitioners should synthesize spacing as a beneficial teaching technique into the curricula, instruction and educational materials to promote vocabulary learning in real classroom setting.
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spelling doaj.art-324ffe99734d43c0902f03bd7a0923622023-08-02T02:10:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2020-01-017110.1080/2331186X.2020.17922611792261The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retentionEhsan Namaziandost0Murad Hassan Mohammed Sawalmeh1Masoumeh Izadpanah Soltanabadi2Islamic Azad UniversityDhofar UniversityPayam Noor UniversityThe current study investigates the effect of massed and spaced instruction on vocabulary recall and retention. To fulfill this objective, 75 Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners (16 to 19 years) took part in 15 sessions of 60 minutes. The participants were randomly divided into three experimental groups; a spaced distribution group (n = 25), a massed distribution group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). The massed distribution group had one intensive session on learning the target vocabulary; the spaced distribution group had three sessions at irregular time intervals, and the control group received no vocabulary-focused instruction. Using a before and after design, students were retested after 5 weeks. To collect data, a receptive vocabulary test was administered as both the pretest and the posttests. The results of One-way ANOVA indicated that the spaced distribution group significantly outperformed the massed distribution group on both immediate and delayed posttests. The results propose that EFL practitioners should synthesize spacing as a beneficial teaching technique into the curricula, instruction and educational materials to promote vocabulary learning in real classroom setting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1792261distribution of instructionspaced distribution instructionmassed distribution instructionl2 vocabulary learningl2 vocabulary recall and retention
spellingShingle Ehsan Namaziandost
Murad Hassan Mohammed Sawalmeh
Masoumeh Izadpanah Soltanabadi
The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
Cogent Education
distribution of instruction
spaced distribution instruction
massed distribution instruction
l2 vocabulary learning
l2 vocabulary recall and retention
title The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
title_full The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
title_fullStr The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
title_full_unstemmed The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
title_short The effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on EFL learners’ vocabulary recall and retention
title_sort effects of spaced versus massed distribution instruction on efl learners vocabulary recall and retention
topic distribution of instruction
spaced distribution instruction
massed distribution instruction
l2 vocabulary learning
l2 vocabulary recall and retention
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1792261
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