Learning more from feedback: Elaborating feedback with examples enhances concept learning

Two experiments investigated whether elaborating practice-test feedback with conceptual examples could increase conceptual understanding. In the present study, participants studied psychology terms and definitions. During the practice test phase, the definition was presented and participants attempted to recall the corresponding concept term. Immediately after responding, half of the participants were given feedback that provided the correct term. The other half was shown the correct term, followed by presentation of a concept example. To assess concept learning, in Experiment 1 participants were given a final cued recall test in which they were presented with either the previously studied definition or a new example and were prompted to provide the correct concept term. The results of Experiment 1 showed that elaborated feedback enhanced performance on tests of both the definitions and the new examples. In Experiment 2 participants took final classification tests to rule out the possibility that feedback elaborated with examples primarily facilitated access to the term name rather than strengthening conceptual understanding. Results demonstrated that presentation of examples during feedback bolstered performance across all test types and formats.