{"id":1433,"slug":"mccurdy-2020-generation-effect-meta-126-papers","title":"McCurdy et al. (2020), Psychonomic Bulletin & Review — 126-article / 310-experiment meta: generation effect magnitude depends on \"generation constraint\" (how constrained the produced response is)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["interactive-tool-mechanisms","generation-effect"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** **McCurdy et al. (2020), *Psychonomic Bulletin & Review*** — meta-analysis of **126 articles, 310 experiments**. Effect magnitude depends on **\"generation constraint\"** — how constrained the produced response is.\n\n**Source:** McCurdy et al. (2020), Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified (meta-analysis).\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Settles the *design dial* — the more constrained the user's input (single-choice dropdown vs free-text), the smaller the generation benefit. Free-text inputs where appropriate beat dropdown selections on engagement; balance against form-friction ([[form-friction-conversion-claim]] from Brief A).","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":"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":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.956Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.956Z"}