The effect of testing versus restudy on retention: A meta-analytic review of the testing effect
We checked this card's citation and the finding we state against the source's own page or record in October 2026.
What it found
Pooling studies that compared taking a test with restudying, the review found support for effortful processing as one reason testing helps: recall tests produced larger benefits than recognition tests such as multiple choice. Explanations based on richer meaning alone were only weakly supported.
What kind of study it is
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Weight
- A synthesis: it pools or weighs many studies, so it carries the most weight on the evidence meter.
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Cited in the Library
Cite this study
Rowland, C. A. (2014). The effect of testing versus restudy on retention: A meta-analytic review of the testing effect. Psychological Bulletin, 140(6), 1432–1463. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037559
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