LONG-TERM RETENTION OF SCHOOL CONTENTS ON PORTUGUESE LITERATURE AND GEOGRAPHY

Two studies were carried out to assess the rate of forgetting of acade mic contents in secondary school over a period of 3-4 years using reca ll, cued recall and recognition tests. The first study tested two grou ps in Portuguese literature, one before exam and the other 3 years lat er. Significant differences were obtained with memory tests, but not w ith retention intervals. The second study tested 3 groups in geography , one group before exam and the other two groups 3 and 4 years later. The same pattern of results were revealed with an additional significa nt interaction between retention intervals and tests. It was suggested that some sporadic exposure to the school materials selected might ex plain the results obtained.