Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving
The retrieval practice effect refers to the fact that one or even multiple retrievals of memory content during the same period are more effective than repeated studying to promote future memory retention. It is effective for numerous declarative knowledge learning materials. However, studies have de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093653/full |
| _version_ | 1797902587454816256 |
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| author | Xiaoxue Huang Sining Zheng Zhiyun Yu Shunsen Chen |
| author_facet | Xiaoxue Huang Sining Zheng Zhiyun Yu Shunsen Chen |
| author_sort | Xiaoxue Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The retrieval practice effect refers to the fact that one or even multiple retrievals of memory content during the same period are more effective than repeated studying to promote future memory retention. It is effective for numerous declarative knowledge learning materials. However, studies have demonstrated that retrieval practice does not benefit problem-solving skill learning. This study used worked examples from math word problem tasks as learning materials, considering the retrieval difficulty as the main factor. Experiment 1 explored the effect of retrieval practice on acquiring problem-solving skills under different initial testing difficulties. Experiment 2 manipulated the difficulty of materials as a variable to ascertain the effect of retrieval practice on problem-solving skills under different material difficulty levels. Experiment 3 introduced feedback variables to facilitate the generation of the retrieval practice effect and examined the effects of various difficulty feedback levels on problem-solving skills learning. Results showed that, compared with restudying examples (SSSS), the example-problem pairs (STST) did not promote delayed test performance. As for the retrieval practice effect, as no differences or advantages were found in the repeated study group on the immediate test, the retrieval practice group generally outperformed the repeated study group on the delayed test. However, across the three experiments, we found no evidence of retrieval practice affecting results during an enhanced delayed test. Therefore, there may be no retrieval practice effect on acquiring problem-solving skills from worked examples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:19:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b884a2651134d36aa42506088cdb390 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b884a2651134d36aa42506088cdb3902023-02-20T16:47:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-02-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.10936531093653Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solvingXiaoxue Huang0Sining Zheng1Zhiyun Yu2Shunsen Chen3Fujian Key Laboratory of Applied Cognition and Personality, School of Educational Science, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, ChinaSchool of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, ChinaInstitute of Marxism, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Applied Cognition and Personality, School of Educational Science, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, ChinaThe retrieval practice effect refers to the fact that one or even multiple retrievals of memory content during the same period are more effective than repeated studying to promote future memory retention. It is effective for numerous declarative knowledge learning materials. However, studies have demonstrated that retrieval practice does not benefit problem-solving skill learning. This study used worked examples from math word problem tasks as learning materials, considering the retrieval difficulty as the main factor. Experiment 1 explored the effect of retrieval practice on acquiring problem-solving skills under different initial testing difficulties. Experiment 2 manipulated the difficulty of materials as a variable to ascertain the effect of retrieval practice on problem-solving skills under different material difficulty levels. Experiment 3 introduced feedback variables to facilitate the generation of the retrieval practice effect and examined the effects of various difficulty feedback levels on problem-solving skills learning. Results showed that, compared with restudying examples (SSSS), the example-problem pairs (STST) did not promote delayed test performance. As for the retrieval practice effect, as no differences or advantages were found in the repeated study group on the immediate test, the retrieval practice group generally outperformed the repeated study group on the delayed test. However, across the three experiments, we found no evidence of retrieval practice affecting results during an enhanced delayed test. Therefore, there may be no retrieval practice effect on acquiring problem-solving skills from worked examples.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093653/fullretrieval practice effectword-problem solvingexample-problem pairsmathematicalfeedback |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoxue Huang Sining Zheng Zhiyun Yu Shunsen Chen Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving Frontiers in Psychology retrieval practice effect word-problem solving example-problem pairs mathematical feedback |
| title | Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving |
| title_full | Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving |
| title_fullStr | Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving |
| title_short | Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving |
| title_sort | retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word problem solving |
| topic | retrieval practice effect word-problem solving example-problem pairs mathematical feedback |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093653/full |
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