Retrieval practice takes more learning time than worked examples, and variability slows improvement during practice¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In both experiments retrieval practice required more learning time than studying worked examples, with a larger gap under varied items. → Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 q2 i? Trial-level accuracy improved more slowly when practicing varied items than repeated items, suggesting variability increased processing demands. → Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 (2)

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

q2 · i? · causal · r2

Supplementary learning-time analyses in Experiment 1 (with a similar pattern in Experiment 2) showed retrieval practice's time cost grew under varied items; the article reports no printed time statistics in the main text.

"Retrieval practice required more learning time than studying worked examples, and this time difference was larger when practice items were varied than when they were repeated"

Meng Cao & Paulo F. Carvalho 2026 (2)¶

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

q2 · i? · causal · r2

Trial-level accuracy analyses within the retrieval practice condition of Experiment 1 showed slower improvement with varied items; the authors say this aligns with research suggesting variability increases a task's cognitive demands.

"participants improved more slowly when practicing varied items than when practicing repeated items"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Without initial instruction, varied retrieval practice matches varied worked examples and beats repeated retrieval practice for generalization — related
• The retrieval (TTST) advantage appeared at both short (5 min) and long (24 h) retention delays, with no reliable evidence that it differed between them — related
• Item variability shows no overall main effect on generalization in either experiment — related