If you're a student, you have probably gotten a lot of advice in the past about what you can do to improve your study habits and improve your ability to learn. Some of the standard suggestions include finding a quiet place to study, using techniques that match your learning style and establishing clear goals. While all of these might be great strategies, a one article from The New York Times points out some excellent research that is upending some of the traditional views on what works and what doesn't when it comes to studying.
"We have known these principles for some time, and it's intriguing that schools don't pick them up, or that people don't learn them by trial and error," Robert A. Bjork, UCLA psychologist explains in the article. "Instead, we walk around with all sorts of unexamined beliefs about what works that are mistaken."
A few of the strategies that have been proven to increase how much students learn from studying include:
- Varying the location in which you study. Moving to the library instead of your dorm room, or simply switching from your living room to another room in the house can increase how much information you retain.
- Studying related concepts, rather that focusing on a single topic during one study session, had been shown to increase learning and retention. If you are trying to learn a new language, for example, try breaking your study session up by spending a little time reading the language, speaking the language and reviewing vocabulary.
- Avoiding "cram sessions" studying whenever possible. While it may be effective in the short-term, the information is quickly lost from memory shortly after an exam. Researchers have found that students have to completely relearn the material again
- Utilizing self-tests can also be very useful as a learning tool. Some studies have shown that this technique boosts memory of the material and may actually be more effective than just studying the material.
So, the next time you sit down to study psychology, consider using some of these proven strategies to increase your learning and retention of the material. While changing study strategies can't guarantee that you'll become an A+ student overnight, these techniques can help you feel more secure about your study habits and perhaps help you feel more motivated to succeed in your psychology courses.
Read more: Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits - The New York Times
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