Production Effect in Complex Texts and Over Time

Abstract

This study was created to test the production effect in complex texts and the effect over time. Production effect arises when an individual reads something aloud and retains information more efficiently. 123 Grace College and Theological Seminary undergraduate students participated in the study over the course of three weeks. Participants were separated into four groups: reading silently with no delay before testing, reading aloud with no delay before testing, reading aloud with a 24-hour delay before testing, reading silently with a 24-hour delay before testing. Our study shows no significant differences between reading complex texts aloud or silently, as measured by both of our test results. Results could be impacted by our population and other limitations of our design.

Keywords: production effect, reading aloud, reading silently, reading, learning, complex texts, studying