When learners receive initial instruction, retrieval practice yields better generalization than worked examples regardless of item variability¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q3·i2medium
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
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q3 i2 With initial instruction, participants using retrieval practice scored significantly higher on the final generalization test than those studying worked examples (ηp² = .10). → Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026
Evidence¶
Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026¶
Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho. (2026). Striking the Balance: How Variability Shapes Retrieval Practice and Worked Examples for Transfer Learning. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-026-10169-w
q3 · i2 · causal · r2
Experiment 1, a mixed-design online experiment (2 variability × 2 strategy, strategy within-subjects, 39 participants per variability group after exclusions), tested transfer on 25 novel items. Retrieval practice beat worked examples with a printed effect size of ηp² = .10 ("F(1,76) = 8.08, p = .006, ηp 2 = .10").
"worked examples, F(1,76) = 8.08, p = .006, ηp 2 = .10 (see Fig. 2). The interaction between variability and learning strategy was not significant, F(1,76) = 0.02, p = .877"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Without initial instruction, repeated worked examples produce better generalization than repeated retrieval practice — reports the opposite
- Without initial instruction, varied retrieval practice matches varied worked examples and beats repeated retrieval practice for generalization — related
- Retrieval Practice Improves Transfer — a broader claim this one bears on
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
retrieval-practice-beats-worked-examples-with-initial-instruction |
title |
When learners receive initial instruction, retrieval practice yields better generalization than worked examples regardless of item variability |
description |
When learners receive initial instruction, retrieval practice yields better generalization than worked examples regardless of item variability |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2026 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-22 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — meng-cao-paulo-f-carvalho-2026 |
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