{"title":"Learning from errors: deliberate errors enhance learning","authors":"Xiuyun Qiang , Xiaofeng Ma , Tiantian Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cedpsych.2025.102379","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deliberate erring is an effective learning strategy, comparable to retrieval practice, However, learners often experience metacognitive illusions regarding both strategies, making their adoption challenging, particularly for deliberate errors. This study compares the effectiveness of deliberate errors (S – D) with retrieval practice (S – T) and restudy (S – S) across three experiments: Experiment 1 focused on immediate testing, while Experiment 2 examined delayed testing. In Experiment 3, the impact of deliberate errors (S – D), retrieval practice with feedback (S – T – S – T), and restudy (S – S – S – S) was assessed in both immediate and delayed tests. Results showed no significant difference between deliberate errors and retrieval practice in immediate tests, regardless of whether retrieval practice included feedback (Experiment 3) or not (Experiment 1). However, deliberate errors consistently outperformed restudy. In delayed tests, deliberate errors significantly outperformed retrieval practice, whether with or without feedback, and both strategies were superior to restudy. The results indicate that, compared to retrieval practice, deliberate errors show better memory retention over a longer time interval. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence for the application of deliberate error, retrieval practice, and restudy strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10635,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Educational Psychology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 102379"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Contemporary Educational Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X2500044X","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATIONAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Deliberate erring is an effective learning strategy, comparable to retrieval practice, However, learners often experience metacognitive illusions regarding both strategies, making their adoption challenging, particularly for deliberate errors. This study compares the effectiveness of deliberate errors (S – D) with retrieval practice (S – T) and restudy (S – S) across three experiments: Experiment 1 focused on immediate testing, while Experiment 2 examined delayed testing. In Experiment 3, the impact of deliberate errors (S – D), retrieval practice with feedback (S – T – S – T), and restudy (S – S – S – S) was assessed in both immediate and delayed tests. Results showed no significant difference between deliberate errors and retrieval practice in immediate tests, regardless of whether retrieval practice included feedback (Experiment 3) or not (Experiment 1). However, deliberate errors consistently outperformed restudy. In delayed tests, deliberate errors significantly outperformed retrieval practice, whether with or without feedback, and both strategies were superior to restudy. The results indicate that, compared to retrieval practice, deliberate errors show better memory retention over a longer time interval. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence for the application of deliberate error, retrieval practice, and restudy strategies.
期刊介绍:
Contemporary Educational Psychology is a scholarly journal that publishes empirical research from various parts of the world. The research aims to substantially advance, extend, or re-envision the ongoing discourse in educational psychology research and practice. To be considered for publication, manuscripts must be well-grounded in a comprehensive theoretical and empirical framework. This framework should raise critical and timely questions that educational psychology currently faces. Additionally, the questions asked should be closely related to the chosen methodological approach, and the authors should provide actionable implications for education research and practice. The journal seeks to publish manuscripts that offer cutting-edge theoretical and methodological perspectives on critical and timely education questions.
The journal is abstracted and indexed in various databases, including Contents Pages in Education, Australian Educational Index, Current Contents, EBSCOhost, Education Index, ERA, PsycINFO, Sociology of Education Abstracts, PubMed/Medline, BIOSIS Previews, and others.