Student Study Techniques and the Generation Effect

In 2 experiments, the generation effect, which occurs when individuals remember materials they have generated (and, thus, targeted) better than materials generated (and targeted) by others, was investigated. The effect has not generally been found in natural settings when total test performance was examined. The examination of total performance rather than just targeted items may mask the effect because items not studied (nontargets) are included. In Experiment 1, groups were compared that generated their own outlines or study questions with groups that received experimenter-generated materials. Test scores showed generation effects for target items. In Experiment 2, students who generated questions were compared with yoked students who used those student-generated questions. Results were again significant, indicating that the generation effect and not potential confounding variables produced the results. The effect does occur in a natural setting, but only for test items targeted by generating students.