Study Tips

Tips for increased retention of material based on empirical findings

within the field of psychology...

Study Tip #1

• Distribute your study rather than cramming it.– Distributed processing: study a little over many

days and allow the material to sink in.– Mass processing (a.k.a. Cramming): Study for

two or three nights before the exam.– Distributed processing has been shown to be

associated with increased retention of learned material.

Study Tip #2

• Re-read, outline and re-write your class notes as soon as possible after class.– Though I know you’re busy, not only with your

coursework but with activities and social events as well, it makes sense to best use the time you do have. Processing class information in the privacy of your own mind soon after you have been exposed to that information strengthens the synaptic connections that contain that information. So long as you study a bit at a time (Tip #1), you will likely find that this practice makes a noticeable difference.

Study Tip #3

• As long as you’re outlining and re-writing your notes (Tip #2)…

• Put your notes in your own words.– You probably don’t have time to do this in class, but

you can do it afterward.• Putting information within your own, very unique way of

thinking increases the self-relevance of the material and, therefore, retention.

• And while you’re at it…associate information in notes with what you already know (e.g., “This phenomenon is like…”) and include this information in your re-written notes.

Study Tip #4

• Practice what you plan to perform.– How did you learn to drive or play an instrument or a new

sport?…probably not by sitting in a lecture hall listening to a professor tell you how to do it. Rather, you practiced!…over and over again!

– Therefore, practice for an exam by taking one.• Get together with a few friends. Each of you make a few exam

items from each book chapter (of the same type that will be on your future exam; e.g., multiple-choice, essay). Photocopy those items and bring them all together into a few practice tests. Each of you take each test and then discuss the results (e.g., let your friend who generated a test item explain why you may have missed that item). This idea is well worth the effort.

Study Tip #5

• It is harder; it takes longer.– This is good advice for life in general. Most

things are more involved and take longer than we expect.

– So study early, study often.– Begin papers early…in fact, how about today.

Especially begin early if any preliminary research is needed to prepare you write the paper.

Study Tip #6

• Reward yourself.– Behavioral psychologists have taught us that

we will more likely repeat reinforced behaviors and cease punished behaviors.

– After you study,…• …watch your favorite show,• …go have some pie.• …go buy a new shirt,• …whatever works for you…

Study Tip #7

• Tulving’s Encoding Specificity Hypothesis.– You will recall information best in the same

setting in which you encoded that information (so says Endel Tulving, a cognitive psychologist).

• So don’t study lying back in a recliner with the TV and stereo on over dinner with your friends hanging around bothering you.

• Study in an environment similar to that of the classroom (e.g., the library, the classroom itself).

And, of course, the obvious:

• Attend class.• In class, listen actively (i.e., pay attention and

think about what you’re hearing).• In class, participate with questions and

comments.• Prepare for a class period before it happens

(e.g., read the material pertaining to that class period beforehand).

• Visit your professor whenever you get the least feeling of confusion or detachment from a course.