Science behind spacing

1. Is the spacing effect real?
2. What is the spacing effect psychology?
3. Why does the spacing effect work?
4. Why does spacing improve memory?

Is the spacing effect real?

We may not know why the spacing effect happens, but centuries of research shows it's real and can help students learn.

What is the spacing effect psychology?

The spacing effect refers to the finding that long-term memory is enhanced when learning events are spaced apart in time, rather than massed in immediate succession (see Ebbinghaus, 1885/1964, for the first study on the spacing effect).

Why does the spacing effect work?

The spacing effect demonstrates that learning is more effective when study sessions are spaced out. This effect shows that more information is encoded into long-term memory by spaced study sessions, also known as spaced repetition or spaced presentation, than by massed presentation ("cramming").

Why does spacing improve memory?

These theories suggest that spaced repetitions lead to a greater variety of contextual elements being integrated into a memory than massed repetitions, and a greater variety of contextual elements means that the memory is more likely to be recalled after a delay period.