Learners judge explanatory feedback as more effective preparation than correct-response feedback, in both studies¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r3 · q3 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i1 In Study 2, practice with explanatory feedback was judged more effective than correct-response feedback (d = −.39), and lecture was also judged more effective than correct-response feedback (d = −.43). → Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 q3 i? In Study 1, participants rated explanatory feedback as more effective preparation than correct-response feedback (b = −0.38, p =.003). → Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026¶

Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho. (2026). Conditions for Effective Learning Without Upfront Instruction: How Practice with Feedback Supports Memory, Generalization, Motivation, and Metacognition. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-025-10103-6

q3 · i1 · causal · r3

Study 2 judgment-of-learning ratings (single item on instructional effectiveness) showed "practice with explanatory feedback was judged to be more effective than practice with correct-response feedback, d = −.39"; lecture showed the same advantage (d = −.43). Judgments did not differ between lecture and explanatory feedback (d =.04, p =.810).

"However, practice with explana- tory feedback was judged to be more effective than practice with correct-response feedback, d = −.39, t(294) = −2.24, p =.026, as was lecture, d = −.43, t(294) = −2.45, p =.015, replicating Study 1."

Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 (2)¶

Michael W. Asher & Paulo F. Carvalho. (2026). Conditions for Effective Learning Without Upfront Instruction: How Practice with Feedback Supports Memory, Generalization, Motivation, and Metacognition. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-025-10103-6

q3 · i? · causal · r3

Study 1 preregistered regression on judgments of learning found participants "rated explanatory feedback as more effective preparation than correct-response feedback, b = −0.38, t(291) = −3.00, p =.003"; lecture versus correct-response feedback showed a nonsignificant trend (p =.077). No confidence interactions were significant.

"On average, participants rated explanatory feedback as more effective prepara- tion than correct-response feedback, b = −0.38, t(291) = −3.00, p =.003, a.37 SD difference."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Practice with feedback—either correct-answer or explanatory—produces better memory than lecture, in both multiple-choice and open-ended formats — related
• Generalization from practice requires explanatory feedback and sufficient prior knowledge or confidence, with benefits concentrated among better-prepared learners — related
• Practice with feedback, regardless of feedback type, improves metacognitive calibration relative to lecture, reducing overconfidence by about 13 percentage points — related
• Correct-answer feedback alone was insufficient for generalization: significantly worse than lecture in Study 1, with the difference not significant in Study 2 — related
• Practice with feedback is more efficient than lecture, saving about 24% of instructional time in Study 1 and yielding 2–3 times higher learning rates in Study 2 — related