Inductive Learning: Does Interleaving Exemplars Affect Long-Term Retention?

Authors

  • Norehan Zulkiply Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Jennifer S. Burt School of Psychology University of Queensland, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2013.10.7

Keywords:

Interleaving effect, inductive learning, category learning, category induction, spacing effect

Abstract

Purpose â€“ The present study investigated whether or not the benefits of interleaving of exemplars from several categories vary with retention interval in inductive learning.
 
Methodology â€“ Two experiments were conducted using paintings (Experiment 1) and textual materials (Experiment 2), and the experiments used a mixed factorial design. Forty students participated in each experiment for course credit. In each experiment, participants studied a series of exemplars from several categories which were presented massed and interleaved, and later their induction was tested either shortly after the study phase (short-term retention) or after a week’s delay (long- term retention).
 
Findings â€“ Consistent with findings from previous studies, the interleaving effect was found in the short-term retention condition, and crucially, the present study provided the initial evidence that interleaving of exemplars also affected long-term retention. Interestingly, massing was judged to be more effective than spacing (interleaving) in most groups, even when actual performance showed
the opposite.
 
Significance â€“ The present study shows that interleaved exemplars have considerable potential in improving inductive learning in the long term. For example, induction is used in case-based reasoning which requires one to start with learning from specifi c cases, and then form generalizations of these cases by identifying the commonalities between them. In order to enhance long-term retention, educators may want to consider using interleaved presentation rather than massed presentation in teaching examples or cases from a particular category or concept.

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Published

26-12-2013

Issue

Vol. 10 (2013): Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction (MJLI) Vol. 10, 2013

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Zulkiply, N., & Burt, J. S. (2013). Inductive Learning: Does Interleaving Exemplars Affect Long-Term Retention? Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 10, 133-155. https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2013.10.7

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Identifiers DOI 10.32890/mjli2013.10.7