Prose Learning: Effects of Pretesting and Reduction of Passage Length

The study was designed to investigate the learning and retention of prose materials. Immediate and 1-wk retention was examined in Ss who had either read a 2,300-word passage (LP) on science fiction or a 300-word short passage (SP). The short passage was derived from the information retained over a 1-wk period by Ss who read and learned the long passage. Retention was assessed by a 30-item multiple-choice test based upon information in the long passage. One-way analysis of variance of posttest scores from 200 adults indicated that for 1-wk retention the short passage was retained significantly ( p < .01) better than the long one. There was no significant difference on immediate retention. The results were discussed in terms of current cognitive learning theory, prose-learning paradigms, and classroom procedures related to the presentation of new material.