<p>A <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22spaced%20repetition%22">quick Pubmed search</a> shows a couple of potential useful papers. The more promising:</p>

<ul>
<li>Karpicke, JD., &amp; Bauernschmidt, A. (2011) <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21574747">Spaced retrieval: absolute spacing enhances learning regardless of relative spacing</a> <em>J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn.</em> 37(5):1250-7</li>
<li>Toppino, TC., Kasserman, JE., &amp; Mracek WA. (1991) <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2010724">The effect of spacing repetitions on the recognition memory of young children and adults</a> <em>J Exp Child Psychol.</em> 51(1):123-38.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-01T02:44:30.163Z
+1 Could you please identify which part of the second paper (Toppino) is a comparizon of different spacing techniques (like Leitner, SM2, etc)? Thanks!
Nicolas Raoul
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-09T19:59:11.497Z
From the abstract of the first paper: >> However, there was no evidence that a particular relative spacing schedule (expanding, equal, or contracting) was inherently superior to another. Although expanding schedules afforded a pattern of increasing retrieval difficulty across repeated tests, this did not translate into gains in long-term retention. Repeated spaced retrieval had powerful effects on retention, but the relative schedule of repeated tests had no discernible impact.
William B Swift
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-08T14:44:38.527Z
2012-08-09T02:56:21.323Z
2012-08-09T02:56:21.323Z
eykanal
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition">Spaced repetition</a> is a memorization technique that works by reviewing question/answer pairs according to a schedule that depends on performance.</p>

<p>Be it software or paper flashcards, there are various techniques to calculate the review schedule. For instance: Leitner, SM0, SM2, ... new techniques appear from time to time. 
Each new scheduling technique is trying to surpass the others, the goal being to calculate the intervals smartly, for instance so that a question is shown just before the student forgets the fact.</p>

<p><strong>Is there work comparing the "efficiency" of some of those scheduling techniques?</strong> (few reviews, well-memorized) Preferably research involving a reasonable number of human experiments.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-08T16:29:31.937Z
Here is a [related question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/480/29) that might be of interest.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-08T18:37:16.243Z
You may find the papers & fulltexts in http://www.gwern.net/Spaced%20repetition#literature-review to be of assistance.
gwern
<memory><encoding><mnemonic>
Compared efficiency of different spaced-repetition memorisation techniques
Nicolas Raoul
# Compared efficiency of different spaced-repetition memorisation techniques

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-08)

[Spaced repetition](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition) is a memorization technique that works by reviewing question/answer pairs according to a schedule that depends on performance.

Be it software or paper flashcards, there are various techniques to calculate the review schedule. For instance: Leitner, SM0, SM2, ... new techniques appear from time to time.
Each new scheduling technique is trying to surpass the others, the goal being to calculate the intervals smartly, for instance so that a question is shown just before the student forgets the fact.

**Is there work comparing the "efficiency" of some of those scheduling techniques?** (few reviews, well-memorized) Preferably research involving a reasonable number of human experiments.

**Tags:** memory, encoding, mnemonic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Here is a [related question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/480/29) that might be of interest.  
> **username_2**: You may find the papers & fulltexts in http://www.username_2.net/Spaced%20repetition#literature-review to be of assistance.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-06-08. Score: 6

A [quick Pubmed search](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22spaced%20repetition%22) shows a couple of potential useful papers. The more promising:

* Karpicke, JD., & Bauernschmidt, A. (2011) [Spaced retrieval: absolute spacing enhances learning regardless of relative spacing](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21574747) *J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn.* 37(5):1250-7
* Toppino, TC., Kasserman, JE., & Mracek WA. (1991) [The effect of spacing repetitions on the recognition memory of young children and adults](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2010724) *J Exp Child Psychol.* 51(1):123-38.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: From the abstract of the first paper: >> However, there was no evidence that a particular relative spacing schedule (expanding, equal, or contracting) was inherently superior to another. Although expanding schedules afforded a pattern of increasing retrieval difficulty across repeated tests, this did not translate into gains in long-term retention. Repeated spaced retrieval had powerful effects on retention, but the relative schedule of repeated tests had no discernible impact.  
> **username_0**: +1 Could you please identify which part of the second paper (Toppino) is a comparizon of different spacing techniques (like Leitner, SM2, etc)? Thanks!  

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