{"id":1431,"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","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["behavioral-economics","interactive-tool-mechanisms","generation-effect"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** **Slamecka & Graf (1978), \"The Generation Effect: Delineation of a Phenomenon,\" *Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory* 4(6), 592-604.** Five experiments; **generated words beat read words across cued/uncued recognition, free and cued recall, and confidence ratings**.\n\n**Source:** Slamecka & Graf (1978), JEP:HLM.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified (foundational).\n\n**Nuance:** Slamecka & Graf's own Experiment 3 found **no significant generation effect on the *stimulus* terms** — i.e., the benefit is **not simply \"heightened attention to everything.\"**\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Foundation for \"make the user produce inputs\" as a real memory and engagement lever. Anchors [[rule-make-user-generate-not-just-pick]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"norton-mochon-ariely-2012-ikea-effect-completion","title":"Norton, Mochon & Ariely (2012), Journal of Consumer Psychology — IKEA effect: effort/co-creation raises valuation of the result (\"labor leads to love\") BUT ONLY WHEN TASK IS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}],"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":"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","link_type":"depends-on"},{"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","link_type":"depends-on"},{"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":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.949Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.949Z"}