The Forward Effects of Testing Transfer to Different Domains of Learning

Interim testing of studied information, compared to restudying or doing nothing, facilitates subsequent learning and retention of new information – the forward testing effect. Previous research exploring this effect has shown that interim testing of studied information from a given domain enhances subsequent learning and retention of new information from the same domain. In the current research, we asked whether interim testing can enhance subsequent encoding and retention of new information from a different domain. By employing a multi-list procedure and switching material types across lists in two experiments, we found that the forward testing effect is transferable across different domains of learning. Theoretical implications of the forward testing effect as well practical implications for education are discussed.

对所研究信息的阶段性测试，与重学或无所作为相比，有助于后续对新信息的习得与保持——即正向测试效应。先前关于此效应的研究表明，对特定领域所研究信息的阶段性测试能够增强对该领域新信息的后续习得与保持。在当前研究中，我们探究了阶段性测试是否能够提升来自不同领域新信息的后续编码与保持。通过采用多列表程序并在两个实验中切换列表间的材料类型，我们发现正向测试效应在不同学习领域间具有可迁移性。正向测试效应的理论意义及其对教育的实践影响亦被讨论。