1. Baddeley: Human memory

2. Practice improves performance
1) total time hypothesis: improvement is a function of the total time invested – the more you invest, the better you’ll perform
2) distribution of practice: you’ll learn better if the practice sessions are gapped
Distributed practice: various points
1. amount of time for practice sessions?
2. amount of rest between practice sessions?
3. Intervals between specific items during practice sessions?

3. Over days, rather than gaps within a day
postmen experiment:
one group – an hour a day
second group – two one-hour sessions (gapped)
third group – one two-hour session
fourth – two two-hour sessions (gapped)
Result: the first group learned more in 60 hours than the others

5. (But note that the overall time will be more, the last group will reach 60 hours in 15 days, the first group will reach 60 hours in 60 days)

6. inter-trial rest periods – not conclusive
inter-item interval also important

7. Importance of successful retrieval:
Learners remember better if they have to retrieve, than if they are tested, fail, and have to be reminded.
The optimum is to test an item at the longest gap possible compatible with successful retrieval.
hence: expanding rehearsal. 

8. You can get a great deal from rehearsal
If it just has the proper dispersal
You would just be an ass
To do it en mass
Your remembering would come out much worsal.
Neisser

9. When does practice not help?
BBC frequencies: housewives tested, mostly didn’t remember.
Frequent repetition does not ensure learning, if it is meaningless and/or not accompanied by attention