Higher working memory capacity was associated with better final test performance on advanced materials¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The direct path from working memory to final test performance was positive and significant in the mediation model. → Redifer 2026

Evidence¶

Redifer 2026¶

Redifer, J. L., Myers, S. J., Bae, C. L., Naas, A., & Scott, A. (2026). Testing the testing effect with advanced materials while accounting for individual differences. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-025-09758-z

q3 · i? · causal · r?

Mediation analysis covariate path in the 213-participant experiment; working memory was measured via automated Symmetry Span and Operation Span tasks one week after learning. The path was "positive and significant" with B = 0.547; no standardized effect size was printed.

"the direct path from working memory to final test perfor­mance was positive and significant, B = 0.547, 95% CI [0.11, 0.98], p =.01, SE = 0.22"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Working Memory — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• In a cross-sectional model, attention problems relate to both non-verbal and verbal math performance only indirectly, through working memory (and, for MR, reading) — related
• Working memory fully mediates the effects of math anxiety and attention on children's non-verbal Numerical Operations — related
• Cascade models in which IQ mediates the WM-to-achievement path fit comparably to, but not significantly better than, the original correlated models — related
• Working memory capacity predicts comprehension performance only in the disfluency condition, with higher WMC yielding better comprehension — related
• Working memory capacity predicts retention performance only in the disfluency condition, with higher WMC yielding better retention — related