The effect of hint strength on the benefits of retrieval practice

Abstract

AbstractRecent work has shown that retrieval hints can make test trials more enjoyable without sacrificing learning. We investigated the extent to which this effect was moderated by hint strength. Both experiments utilized a within‐participants design. In Experiment 1 (n = 41), participants studied skeletal charts highlighting a bone region. After study, participants received one test trial with either consonants‐only (e.g., _cc_p_t_l), vowels‐only (e.g., o__i_i_a_), or no hint (e.g., _________). Retrieval latencies were fastest for the consonants‐only items, suggesting they provided the strongest hints. Although the consonants‐only trial produced the worst final test performance, participants rated that trial as the most effective, the most fun, and the trial they would use from now on. Experiment 2 (n = 32) replicated and extended these results using a criterion learning paradigm. These experiments show that participants prefer extremely strong hints during test trials, even when such hints impair performance.