The name game: Using retrieval practice to improve the learning of names

In medium-sized groups such as classes, it is often desirable that the memb ers become acquainted with one another. Toward this end, various methods of introducing group members are often used, with only anecdotal evidence for their effectiveness. The name game is a method for introducing group membe rs that is based on the principles of retrieval practice. The authors compa red 2 versions of the name game with a widely used introductory method-pair wise introductions-and found that the name game participants were much bett er at remembering one another's names after 30 min, 2 weeks, and 11 months. A second experiment tested the contribution of retrieval practice by compa ring 2 versions of the name game with a procedure that was matched for numb er of repetitions and time spent on the task. Again, the name games were su perior.