Abstract
Roediger and Karpicke show that retrieval practice is not just assessment but a learning event: after a delay, students who had been tested retained substantially more than those who restudied the same material the same number of times — even though restudy raised confidence more. The act of recalling strengthens memory.
Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. DOI
Key findings
- Testing is learning — Retrieval on a no-feedback test improved later retention beyond restudying the same content.
- Delay reveals the effect — At 5 minutes restudy won; at 2 days and 1 week prior testing won by a wide margin.
- Confidence misleads — Repeated study raised students’ confidence yet produced worse delayed recall than testing.
When to open this
Open alongside Learn to learn when you need the evidence that self-testing — not rereading — is what builds durable skill.