Investigations of the Testing Effect

Abstract

This paper focuses on methodological problems arising in the study of the testing effect. These problems arise because processes that are correlated with, but logically independent of, the process of testing often differ across the study and test conditions. Carrier and Pashler (1992) recently reviewed these problems and proposed a paired-associate procedure for alleviating them. In this procedure, robust testing effects occurred, suggesting that the processes underlying testing may differ from those in a standard study condition. One potential problem with Carrier and Pashler's procedure is that opportunities to restudy previously tested items may be contributing to the testing effect. We use a modified Brown-Peterson paradigm (Peterson & Peterson, 1959) to provide converging evidence for Carrier and Pashler's (1992) conclusions. The results of Experiment 1 demonstrate testing effects even when there are no opportunities to restudy previously tested items. Experiment 2 examines whether, as suggested by Carrier and Pashler (1992), stronger interitem associations might be producing the testing effect arising from an intervening free recall test. The results demonstrate that testing effects occur even when single item lists are used, ruling out the view that testing effects are due solely to stronger interitem associations.