Surprising feedback improves later memory

Abstract

The hypercorrection effect is the finding that high-confidence errors are more likely to be corrected after feedback than are low-confidence errors (Butterfield & Metcalfe, 2001). In two experiments, we explored the idea that the hypercorrection effect results from increased attention to surprising feedback. In Experiment 1, participants were more likely to remember the appearance of the presented feedback when the feedback did not match expectations. In Experiment 2, we replicated this effect using more distinctive sources and also demonstrated the hypercorrection effect in this modified paradigm. Overall, participants better remembered both the surface features and the content of surprising feedback.

Figure 1

Average proportion correct on the source test for each confidence level, as a function of whether the answer on the initial test was correct or incorrect. Bolded lines are the best fitting trend lines. (Experiment 1)

Figure 2

Average proportion of the errors on the first test that were corrected on the second test for each confidence level. Bolded line is the best fitting trend line. (Experiment 2)

Figure 3

Average proportion correct on the source test for each confidence level split by whether the answer on the initial test was correct or incorrect. Bolded lines are the best fitting trend lines. (Experiment 2)