Elaborative processing of prose enhances later retrievability, accounting for roughly 30% of variance in one-month recall when original learning is controlled¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r? · q2 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 1981 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Evidence quality · No study behind this claim is a peer-reviewed article with a DOI: it rests on an ERIC document (a report, conference paper or thesis). It is kept because 2 design pages cite it; treat it as a lead to check, not an established finding.

Subclaims¶

q2 i2 With degree of original learning controlled across levels of elaborative processing, elaborative processing showed a powerful effect on retrieval, accounting for roughly 30% of the variance in one-month recall of propositions. → Gagne 1981 q2 i? The effect replicated in a second experiment using less able students and a one-week retention interval. → Gagne 1981 (2)

Evidence¶

Gagne 1981¶

Gagne, Ellen D. (1981). Comprehension and the Long-Term Recall of Information. Final Report. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED221831

q2 · i2 · causal · r?

The report describes experiments with middle-school students who learned passages to an 85% correct criterion with rehearsal controlled, then free-recalled after a delay. The report states the results showed "apowerful effect of elaborative processing on retrieval, accounting forroughly 30% of the variance in one month recall of propositions".

"we did control for the degree of originallearning across levels of elaborative processing and the results showed apowerful effect of elaborative processing on retrieval, accounting forroughly 30% of the variance in one month recall of propositions"

Gagne 1981 (2)¶

Gagne, Ellen D. (1981). Comprehension and the Long-Term Recall of Information. Final Report. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED221831

q2 · i? · causal · r?

The report states the elaborative-processing effect on retrieval was replicated in a second experiment with less able students over a one-week retention interval, as described in the article on prior knowledge in retrieval processes.

"This result was replicated in a secondexperiment described in the same artidle, usingless able students and a one-week retention interval."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Elaborative Encoding Improves Retention — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it
• Training seventh graders to elaborate produced better long-term recall than questions stimulating elaboration, and the training transferred to new passages — related