The Role of Wait Time in Higher Cognitive Level Learning
Abstract
Wait time is defined in terms of the duration of pauses separating utterances during verbal interaction. The paper reviews studies involving wait time in a range of subject areas and grade levels. When average wait time was greater than a threshold value of 3 seconds, changes in teacher and student discourse were observed and higher cognitive level achievement was obtained in elementary, middle, and high school science. Achievement increases were also reported in middle school mathematics. Wait time appears to facilitate higher cognitive level learning by providing teachers and students with additional time to think.
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Average wait time greater than three seconds led to higher achievement in learning.
“Tobin (1987) further argued that average wait time greater than three seconds led to higher achievement in learning.”
From Teacher questions, wait time, and student output in classroom interaction in EMI science classes: An interdisciplinary view (2023) · cites this paper as Tobin (1987)
In EMI classes, more extended wait time can also lead to positive changes to classroom interaction.
“Thus, this finding adds to the existing literature in the L1 classrooms (Rowe, 1974;Tobin, 1987) that in EMI classes more extended wait time can also lead to positive changes to classroom interaction.”
From Teacher questions, wait time, and student output in classroom interaction in EMI science classes: An interdisciplinary view (2023) · cites this paper as Tobin, 1987
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References 34 · Cited by 308
- Authors
- Tobin, K.
- Affiliations
- Western Australian Institute of Technology
- Corresponding author
- Tobin, Kenneth
- ORCID
- Tobin, Kenneth
- Venue
- Review of Educational Research
- Published
- 1987-03
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 69-95
- ISSN
- 0034-6543 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-1046
- OpenAlex
- W2157463827
- Cited by
- 308
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Review of Educational Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Keywords
- waiting time, teacher-student discourse, classroom interaction, science achievement, mathematics achievement, primary education, junior high school, high schools, student thinking time
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