The Effect of Retrieval on Post-task Enjoyment of Studying

Abstract

Although active retrieval is an extremely effective study method, students continue to use less effective methods (Karpicke, Journal of Experimental Psychology General, 138(4), 469–486, 2009; Hartwig and Dunlosky, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19(1), 126–134, 2012). There are likely many underlying reasons for using less effective methods, but one possibility could be that active retrieval is simply not as enjoyable as other methods. In the present study, following a learning task, undergraduates rated active retrieval as less enjoyable than re-reading. Performance on the initial retrieval task, preexisting rating of enjoyment of the content, and performance incentives moderated the students’ ratings of the study techniques.

Appendixes

Appendix A: Questions

Passage 1: Short-Answer Questions

• 1. Salvador Dali created some of the most widely recognized images to come out of what artistic movement?

• 2. In what region of Spain was Salvador Dalí born?

• 3. For what action did Salvador Dalí praise Francisco Franco?

• 4. What was the name of Salvador Dalí's wife?

• 5. What image did Salvador Dali portray in The Persistence of Memory?

• 6. What was a major influence on Salvador Dalí's eccentric personality?

• 7. What was the main difference between Salvador Dali's public and private political views?

• 8. Why might Salvador Dalí have attempted to commit suicide?

• 9. Dali praised the work of Federico Garcia Lorca even though his works were…

• 10. What was the name of Dali’s brother who died of Meningitis?

Passage 1: Multiple-Choice Questions

• 1. Salvador Dali created some of the most widely recognized images to come out of what artistic movement?

• • The Surrealist movement

• • The Futurist movement

• • The Fauvist movement

• • The Art Nouveau movement

• 2. In what region of Spain was Salvador Dalí born?

• • He was born in the region of Catalonia

• • He was born in the region of Andalucia

• • He was born in the region of Aragon

• • He was born in the region of Cantabria

• 3. For what action did Salvador Dalí praise Francisco Franco?

• • Signing death warrants for political prisoners

• • Imposing martial law after capturing Madrid

• • Proclaiming Spain a monarchy, but not designating a monarch.

• • Banning the usage of any language other than Spanish

• 4. What was the name of Salvador Dalí’s wife?

• • Her name was Gala

• • Her name was Aracelia

• • Her name was Elisa

• • Her name was Inez

• 5. What image did Salvador Dali portray in The Persistence of Memory?

• • The image of the soft, melting pocket watch

• • The image of a dark cluster of ants

• • The image of rocks morphing into each other

• • The image of a broken phone over a plate of eggs

• 6. What was a major influence on Salvador Dalí’s eccentric personality?

• • His unusual childhood

• • His peers at the Art Academy of Madrid

• • His relationship with fellow artist Federico García Lorca

• • His obsession with Freudian theories

• 7. What was the main difference between Salvador Dali’s public and private political views?

• • Publically he supported fascism, but privately he was more open-minded.

• • Publically he denounced Franco, but privately he encouraged him.

• • Publically he posed as a monarchist, but privately he liked communism.

• • Publically he appeared uninvolved in politics, but he was active privately.

• 8. Why might Salvador Dalí have attempted to commit suicide?

• • He was devastated by his wife’s death

• • He was upset about the public’s disapproval of his work

• • His only son died in an automobile accident

• • He was very poor and destitute

• 9. Dali praised the work of Federico Garcia Lorca even though his works were…

• • Banned

• • Rigid and deterministic

• • Facist

• • Jewish

• 10. What was the name of Dali’s brother who died of Meningitis?

• • Salvador

• • Figueres

• • Felipe

• • Francisco

Passage 2: Short-Answer Questions

• 1. Before the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the broader Arab-Israeli conflict had been going on since what year?

• 2. What did the Egyptian and Syrian forces use to breach Israeli defenses during the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• 3. Launched on October 15th during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Operation “Abiray-Lev” translates to what in English?

• 4. What was the name of the diplomat who brokered a disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria at the end of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• 5. The 1973 Arab-Israeli War was incited in part because of what two disputed regions?

• 6. As a result of Yom Kippur and Ramadan, what were both sides of the conflict doing during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• 7. What change in strategy by the Egyptians led to a turning point in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• 8. Why were the early events of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War critical to the later normalization of relations between Egypt and Israel?

• 9. What international organization passed a resolution that called for a cease-fire between the two nations?

• 10. What was unique about the Camp David Accords?

Passage 2: Multiple-Choice Questions

• 1. Before the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the broader Arab-Israeli conflict had been going on since what year?

• • 1948

• • 1928

• • 1901

• • 1963

• 2. What did the Egyptian and Syrian forces use to breach Israeli defenses during the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• • Water Cannons

• • Mechanized infantry

• • Tanks

• • Cruise missiles

• 3. Launched on October 15th during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Operation “Abiray-Lev” translates to what in English?

• • Operation “Stouthearted Men”

• • Operation “Protect the Heart”

• • Operation “Brave Lion”

• • Operation “Lightening Strike”

• 4. What was the name of the diplomat who brokered a disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria at the end of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• • Henry Kissinger

• • John Foster Dulles

• • Kurt Waldheim

• • Margaret Thatcher

• 5. The 1973 Arab-Israeli War was incited in part because of what two disputed regions?

• • The Golan Heights and the Sinai region

• • The West Bank and the Gaza Strip

• • Haifa and Elat

• • Beth Shean and Hadera

• 6. As a result of Yom Kippur and Ramadan, what were both sides of the conflict doing during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• • Fasting during the day

• • Praying three times a day

• • Refraining from eating fish

• • Resting during the day

• 7. What change in strategy by the Egyptians led to a turning point in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War?

• • Instead of continuing to sit back defensively, the Egyptian army went on an all-out attack

• • Instead of continuing to occupy Israeli land, the Egyptian army pulled out abruptly

• • Instead of continuing to fight on foot, the Egyptian forces used artillery and planes

• • Instead of attacking Israel from the South, the Egyptian army attacked by water from the

• 8. Why were the early events of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War critical to the later normalization of relations between Egypt and Israel?

• • The early victories helped Egyptian moral and pride, allowing them to recognize Israel

• • The early victories showed that Israel had a superior military and diplomacy was the only option.

• • The co-occurrence of Muslim and Jewish holidays helped both sides realize they had much in common.

• • The early victories left Israel’s defenses in ruins, making diplomacy their only option

• 9. What international organization passed a resolution that called for a cease-fire between the two nations?

• • The United Nations

• • NATO

• • The Arab Alliance

• • Abiray-Lev

• 10. What does the passage say was historically unique about the Camp David Accords?

• • An Arab country recognizing the state of Israel

• • The location of the negotiation

• • Vindication for Egypt

• • Syria exchanged prisoners

Appendix B: Modified Version of the IMI Examples

Pre-task Modified IMI for Passage 1

Directions: You will be reading one passage about an artists’ life. For each of the following statements, please indicate how true it is for you:

Not at all trueSomewhat TrueVery True

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• 1. I think I will enjoy reading a passage about an artist very much.

• 2. Reading and learning about artists can be fun to do.

• 3. I think reading about an artist would be a boring activity (R).

• 4. Reading about an artist will probably not hold my attention at all.

• 5. Reading about an artist’s life might be interesting.

• 6. I think reading about an artists’ life will be quite enjoyable.

• 7. Before reading the passage about an artist, I am thinking I could enjoy it.

Pre-task IMI Passage 2

Directions: You will also be reading a passage about the six days war, which occurred in the Middle East between the Israelis and several Arab nations. Considering that content area, please indicate how true it is for you:

• 1. I think I will enjoy reading about this historic event.

• 2. Reading and learning about historical conflicts such as this one can be fun to do.

• 3. I think reading and learning about the Six Days war will be boring.

• 4. Reading about the Six Days War will probably not hold my attention at all.

• 5. Reading about the Six Days War might be interesting.

• 6. I think learning about these historically significant events will be quite enjoyable.

• 7. Before reading this passages about the Six Days War, I am thinking I could enjoy it.

Modified IMI Following Retrieval

Directions: For each of the following statements, please indicate how true it is for you, considering the questions you just answered:

• 1. While answering these questions, I was thinking about how much I enjoyed it.

• 2. These questions did not hold my attention at all. (R)

• 3. Reading and answering these questions was fun.

• 4. I would describe these questions as very interesting.

• 5. I enjoyed answering these questions very much.

• 6. These questions were fun to answer.

Modified IMI Following Re-Studying

Directions: For each of the following statements, please indicate how true it is for you, considering the statements you just read:

• 1. While I was reading this material, I was thinking about how much I enjoyed it.

• 2. This reading material did not hold my attention at all. (R)

• 3. Studying this material was fun.

• 4. I would describe this material as very interesting.

• 5. I enjoyed reading this material very much.

• 6. This material was fun to read.