Self-Assessment Responding and Testing Methods: Effects on Performers and Observers

Abstract

Learning of a specific task can be achieved either by the learner's own performance of the task or by observing another person perform the task. Distinct differences have been described in the literature concerning the performance of those who learn by performing versus those who learn by observing. In the present study, 128 women learned the correct responses by either observing or performing. Subsequently, participants took either a performance or a written test, with or without making self-assessments about how sure they were that their selected answer was correct. Participants who learned with self-assessment selected a greater percentage of correct responses, both during the learning trials and on the tests that followed, than did those who learned without self-assessment. No evidence was, however, found that scores on the type of test given (written or performance) was affected by the type of learning (observing or performing).