In student assessments, what is often the outcome of applying the law of disuse?

The law of disuse suggests that skills or knowledge that are not practiced or used tend to deteriorate over time. As it pertains to student assessments, when learners do not engage with material or practice their skills regularly, they are likely to forget or lose retention of that information. This directly impacts their performance and understanding during evaluations, as the lack of use leads to a weakening of the skills and knowledge that may have once been more robust.

While strengthening skills, increased motivation, and improved recall are all positive outcomes that can arise from regular practice and engagement, the law of disuse specifically addresses the negative consequences of neglecting to reinforce what has been learned. Therefore, the most relevant outcome in this context is indeed the loss of retention, as it reflects the fundamental premise of the law.