Worked-example effect

The worked-example effect is when you learn better by seeing and studying examples that are already solved, compared to trying to solve a problem by yourself from scratch.

Imagine you are trying to build a puzzle, but you have never seen the finished picture before. It might be difficult to understand how the pieces fit together, and you might get frustrated and give up. But if you have seen the completed puzzle beforehand, it becomes much easier to see how the different pieces fit together, and it's likely you will be able to complete the puzzle much faster.

Similarly, when you are trying to learn a new concept or subject, it can be helpful to study examples of the problem already solved. From these examples, it becomes easier to see how the different components of the problem are related, and you can learn the steps to solve similar problems independently.

The worked-example effect says that we learn more effectively from studying examples rather than just being presented with information. By seeing an example laid out in front of us, we can understand the process and the logical steps to solve a problem. This type of learning is especially helpful for complex or difficult topics where there are many steps or components to understand.