Spacing Effect

Definition

The spacing effect is a psychological phenomenon where learning is greater when studying is spread out over time, as opposed to studying the same amount of content in a single session.

Related terms

Distributed Practice:

This refers to breaking up study sessions over time rather than cramming all at once. It's one way to apply the spacing effect.

Massed Practice:

This is essentially 'cramming,' or trying to learn all material in one long study session. It's generally less effective than distributed practice due to lack of spacing effect.

Interleaving: This involves mixing different topics or types of information during study sessions, which can enhance learning by leveraging the spacing effect.