Investigating the efficacy of retrieval practice in university mathematics

Abstract

Retrieving information from memory can strengthen one’s memory of the retrieved information itself. The strategic use of retrieval to enhance memory and help long-term retention is known as test-enhanced learning or retrieval practice. Test-enhanced learning has been proven effective concerning different learning materials, but these experiments were primarily conducted in laboratory environments and focused mainly on memorization. Our aim was to explore the efficacy of test-enhanced learning used for teaching mathematics at university level. The experiment was carried out in classroom settings, concerning obligatory courses. The participants were six groups of undergraduate pre-service mathematics teachers. Three groups learned Number Theory using the testing effect, and the other three learned using traditional methods. The experimental and control groups learned the exact same information in the lecture and wrote the same final test. The experimental group performed significantly better than the control group, although their performance on the initial competence exams was significantly worse. The results indicate that test-enhanced learning has a significant advantage in solving complex mathematical problems. To examine the effect of differences in individual competence, we divided the students in both experimental and control groups into low-, middle-, and high-performing groups. The efficacy of test-enhanced learning was demonstrated in all the three performance levels. Regarding the three pairs of groups, members of the experimental group using test-enhanced learning performed better than those of the control group.

Keywords: testing effect, retrieval practice, mathematics, complex problems, individual differences.