Research Article

Does adaptive training work?

  1. Claudia Metzler-Baddeley1,*,
  2. Roland J. Baddeley2

Article first published online: 31 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1002/acp.1454

Issue

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Volume 23, Issue 2, pages 254–266, February 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Metzler-Baddeley, C. and Baddeley, R. J. (2009), Does adaptive training work?. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23: 254–266. doi: 10.1002/acp.1454

Author Information

  1. 1

    The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, Bath, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

*The Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE), The RICE Centre, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 DEC 2008
  2. Article first published online: 31 MAY 2008

Funded by

  • Unit of the University of Manchester. Grant Number: AA 021 NK

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Abstract

People intuitively alter the allocation of study time between items of varying difficulty, and such adaptive learning methods are widely used in education and in commercially available memory training programs. We investigated the effectiveness of a computer-based adaptive learning system that utilises spacing and repetition effects by presenting difficult items with short gaps to establish fast learning, and easy items with long intervals to optimise long-term retention. The immediate and delayed effects of adaptive training on cued recall were investigated relative to a control condition of non-adaptive, random spacing. Adaptive training produced significantly higher immediate and delayed recall rates than random spacing. These results encourage the use of adaptive training in education and rehabilitation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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