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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Retrieval practice

Overview

  • Influence: Retrieval practice
  • Domain: Student Learning Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Learning strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Strategies that enhance student memory and learning by actively recalling information from memory, often through activities like quizzes, flashcards, or discussion prompts, rather than passively reviewing material.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 4
  • Number of studies: 334
  • Number of students: 61,716
  • Number of effects: 697
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.51
  • Robustness index: 4

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Psychological Bulletin Yang, Luo, Vadillo, Yu, & Shanks Testing (quizzing) boosts classroom learning: A systematic and meta-analytic review. 2021 Effects of testing 222 48,478 573 0.50
Frontiers in Psychology Özdemir & Seçkin Quantifying cognitive and affective impacts of Quizlet on learning outcomes: a systematic review and comprehensive meta-analysis.  2024 Quizlet practice on achievement 23 NA 23 0.53
Educational Psychology Review Agarwal, Nunes, & Blunt Retrieval practice consistently benefits student learning: A systematic review of applied research in schools and classrooms. 2021 Retrieval practice 37 5,374 49 0.66
Educational Psychology Review Sotola & Crede Regarding class quizzes: A meta-analytic synthesis of studies on the relationship between frequent low-stakes testing and class performance. 2021 Retrieval practice 52 7,864 52 0.42
TOTAL/AVERAGE 334 61,716 697 0.53
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