{"id":1432,"slug":"bertsch-2007-generation-effect-meta-d-0-40","title":"Bertsch, Pesta, Wiscott & McDaniel (2007), Memory & Cognition 35(2) — 86-study generation-effect meta: d ≈ 0.40 (\"almost half a standard deviation\"); LARGER at longer retention (d ≈ 0.64 for >1 day)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["interactive-tool-mechanisms","generation-effect"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** **Bertsch, Pesta, Wiscott & McDaniel (2007), *Memory & Cognition* 35(2), 201-210** — **86-study meta-analysis, 445 effect sizes**. **Canonical effect size: d ≈ 0.40** (\"almost half a standard deviation\"). **LARGER at longer retention intervals: d ≈ 0.64 for >1 day vs. ~0.32 immediate.**\n\n**Source:** Bertsch et al. (2007), Memory & Cognition.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified (meta-analysis).\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** The single citable effect size for generation. **d ≈ 0.40** is the number to use in client conversations. The \"larger at longer retention\" finding means tools that surface user-generated content (e.g., a saved configuration) retain memory benefit beyond the session.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"slamecka-graf-1978-generation-effect-foundational","title":"Slamecka & Graf (1978), JEP:HLM 4(6) — Generation Effect: generated words beat read words across cued/uncued recognition, free and cued recall, and confidence","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-smb-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer top-up): why interactive online tools are psychologically engaging — six additional mechanisms (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"text-generation-eg-2023-no-effect-beyond-900-words","title":"Text-generation meta-analysis (Educational Psychology Review 2023) — Hedges g ≈ .41; LARGEST for 301-600 word texts; NO EFFECT beyond ~900 words","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"2025-replication-generation-effect-doesnt-transfer-to-expository","title":"CAVEAT — 2025 conceptual replication (Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications) — generation effect did NOT reliably transfer to learning from expository text; some experiments showed disadvantage","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"caveats-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-mechanism-vs-business-outcome","title":"Caveats for the engagement-mechanisms top-up: strong independent evidence sits at the MECHANISM level not the business-outcome level; nearly every effect is moderated","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-make-user-generate-not-just-pick","title":"R4 — Where appropriate, make the user GENERATE inputs (not just pick from menus) — the generation effect d≈0.40 is real but ceilings beyond ~900 words and doesn't scale to expository text","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.953Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.953Z"}