The Effects of Overlearning and Distributed Practice on the Retention of Mathematics Knowledge
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1266
Abstract
In two experiments, 216 college students learned to solve one kind of mathematics problem before completing one of various practise schedules. In Experiment 1, students either massed 10 problems in a single session or distributed these 10 problems across two sessions separated by 1 week. The benefit of distributed practise was nil among students who were tested 1 week later but extremely large among students tested 4 weeks later. In Experiment 2, students completed three or nine practise problems in one session. The additional six problems constituted a strategy known as overlearning, but this extra effort had no effect on test scores 1 or 4 weeks later. Thus, long‐term retention was boosted by distributed practise and unaffected by overlearning. Unfortunately, most mathematics textbooks rely on a format that emphasises overlearning and minimises distributed practise. An easily adopted alternative format is advocated.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Applied Cognitive Psychology, v. 20, issue 9, p. 1209-1224
Scholar Commons Citation
Rohrer, Doug and Taylor, Kelli M., "The Effects of Overlearning and Distributed Practice on the Retention of Mathematics Knowledge" (2006). Psychology Faculty Publications. 1770.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/1770
