Targeted retrieval via specific short-answer tasks improves retention of directly targeted information more than holistic retrieval via free-recall tasks¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q2·i3large
Currency · newest study 2020 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q2 i3 Specific short-answer retrieval practice led to better one-week-delayed retention of targeted content sections than free-recall practice, in both posttest formats. → Tino Endres 2020
Evidence¶
Tino Endres 2020¶
Tino Endres, Lena Kranzdorf, Vivien Schneider, Alexander Renkl. (2020). It matters how to recall – task differences in retrieval practice. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-020-09526-1
q2 · i3 · causal · r2
Within-subject experiment with 54 university students; one-week-delayed posttest after short-answer (targeted) or free-recall (holistic) practice on two expository texts. On the short-answer posttest the targeted condition scored higher, printed effect size ƞ2 = 0.195 (large by the authors' criteria); the free-recall posttest showed the same direction (ƞ2 = 0.071).
"Targeted retrieval improved the learning outcomes of targeted content sections more than holistic retrieval in both posttest types (short-answer posttest: targeted retrieval in targeted retrieval condition, M = 3.63, SD = 1.76, targeted retrieval in holistic retrieval condition, M = 2.82, SD = 0.95, F [1, 53] = 12.868, p < 0.001, ƞ2 = 0.195"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Holistic retrieval via free-recall improves retention of non-targeted information, but only on the free-recall posttest — related
- Overall posttest performance does not differ between targeted and holistic retrieval conditions — related
- Retrieval practice improves long-term retention — a broader claim this one bears on
- Practicing retrieval of some portions of an educational text can enhance retention of related nontested portions (retrieval-induced facilitation), but not when relational encoding is disrupted — related
- Targeted retrieval via short-answer tasks improves metacognitive calibration more than holistic retrieval via free-recall — related
- Holistic retrieval increases situational interest, with better recall performance predicting greater interest, contrary to the knowledge-deprivation hypothesis — related
- VeriForge's integrated workflow is associated with higher one-week delayed recall of domain terms and a higher retention rate (exploratory) — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
targeted-retrieval-improves-targeted-information-retention |
title |
Targeted retrieval via specific short-answer tasks improves retention of directly targeted information more than holistic retrieval via free-recall tasks |
description |
Targeted retrieval via specific short-answer tasks improves retention of directly targeted information more than holistic retrieval via free-recall tasks |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2020 |
source_checked |
2026-10-20 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-18 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — tino-endres-2020 |
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