Does the Effectiveness of Interspersed and Blocked Questions Vary across Readers?

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper examines whether answering questions that are interspersed within a reading versus presented as a block after a reading produces different learning outcomes for different readers. In an initial study, financial accounting students who read with interspersed (blocked) questioning earned higher exam scores if, in other courses, they typically read before (after) class. A follow-up study randomly assigned students to either interspersed or blocked questioning when reading about business viability. Interspersed questions led to greater delayed recall by stronger readers, whereas blocked questions led to greater delayed recall by weaker readers. A third study randomly assigned type of questioning (interspersed or blocked) and reading conditions (mind-wandering induced or not) to students learning the revenue recognition model. Test scores were higher when interspersed questions were asked of students not induced to mind-wander and when blocked questions were asked of students induced to mind-wander.