Psychol Sci June 2008 PMID 18578849

Learning concepts and categories: is spacing the "enemy of induction"?

Nate Kornell, Robert A Bjork

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Mentions

Peak: 5 in Oct 2018

across 6 sources since Oct 2018

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Oct 2018 – Jan 2026

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions reflect strong interest in the topic, with users citing specific studies and paradigms (e.g., interleaving and spacing effects), and referencing methods like fMRI, indicating engagement with scientific details. The tone is analytical and inquisitive, emphasizing the potential for research to shape learning strategies, which underscores both the relevance and impact of the publication.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the value of spacing and interleaving, aligning with the article's findings that spacing enhances learning despite common misconceptions.

InterestHigh interest

Participants exhibit high curiosity about related research, mentioning specific methodological studies and cognitive psychology experiments.

EngagementModerate engagement

There is some active exchange, with users referencing prior studies and requesting clarification, showing moderate depth.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations highlight recognition that the research could influence educational practices and cognitive research, though the discussions are mostly exploratory.

Abstract in brief

The study explores how the way examples are presented (spacing versus massing) affects our ability to learn and generalize concepts, especially in inductive learning like identifying an artist’s style.
Results show that spacing out examples (spacing) actually improves long-term recall and helps people better recognize new, related examples, even though people tend to think massing (grouping similar examples together) feels more effective.
Interestingly, while massing might seem easier and more fluent during learning, spacing ultimately enhances inductive learning and concept generalization, although participants often prefer massing due to their initial perceptions.]

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Nathan Cashion

@nathancashion · X

Apr 8, 2025 · 1 like · 414 followers View post →

delucca

@deluccadev · X

@suissola @sseraphini Sobre o interleaving, os principais estudos são esses: https://t.co/AwgMvAJmuw https://t.co/GLI24RRkaq https://t.co/ij3HiQB8V1 (+)

Jul 7, 2021 · 6 likes · 1,546 followers View post →

Michael Cohen

@Indecisionwins · X

@RachaelElward Is this what you’re thinking of? It’s not fMRI, but it has inspired a bunch of follow up work in the cognitive psych literature. https://t.co/ffPktNXwp6

Mar 1, 2021 · 1 like · 304 followers View post →

Richard Allen

@richjallen · X

@RachaelElward @karampbell @mariam_s_aly Reminds me of work on spacing using that kind of paradigm https://t.co/tArvfFOtmH and https://t.co/ZlccbXIofu

Mar 1, 2021 · 2 likes · 656 followers View post →

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