Episode 94: Retrieval Practice in the Health Professions

“students may choose to look up the answer when they are unsure, rather than trying to retrieve it from memory, or only choose to use retrieval practice for items that they missed in practice.”

“This use of flashcards is highly effective when exams focus on low-level facts, but may not yield the level of comprehension necessary for exams that focus on higher-order inferences.”

“Students may be hesitant to use retrieval practice because they worry that errors signal that they not only don't know the material, but perhaps are unfit for their program, feelings that can be related to imposter syndrome.”