Shine OnThe real way to get good grades: Common study methods proven ineffective in new report
It's a common complaint when final marks are posted: "But I studied really hard!"
Before the students in your home start cramming for their final exams this spring, challenge them to assess their studying techniques.
A new report published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest finds that many of the most-used approaches to studying don't actually guarantee great grades.
"We wanted to take a comprehensive look at promising strategies now, in order to direct teachers, students and parents to the strategies that are effective, yet underused," says researcher John Dunlosky of Kent State University in a press release.
The report finds the methods that received the lowest ranking for improving student learning were among the most popular: highlighting texts, rereading, underlining and summarization.
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The most effective studying strategies? Practice testing and distributed practice.
"Distributed practice" involves spreading out studying over time rather than cramming for an exam at the last minute, a practice that doesn't prove very effective — nor does the infamous all-nighter.
"I was shocked that some strategies that students use a lot — such as rereading and highlighting — seem to provide minimal benefits to their learning and performance. By just replacing rereading with delayed retrieval practice, students would benefit," says Dunlosky.
Students who quiz themselves, use flash cards and complete the practice questions found at the back of their textbooks are generally more successful that those who just underline and reread their notes.
"Cramming information at the last minute may allow you to get through that test or meeting, but the material will quickly disappear from memory. It’s much more effective to dip into the material at intervals over time. And the longer you want to remember the information, whether it’s two weeks or two years, the longer the intervals should be," explains TIME education writer,Annie Murphy Paul.
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The report also asked why students aren't using the more effective studying strategies.
"These strategies are largely overlooked in the educational psychology textbooks that beginning teachers read, so they don’t get a good introduction to them or how to use them while teaching," Dunlosky says.
Because teachers aren't fully equipped to cover studying strategies, many of the effective techniques are overlooked.
"The real-world guidance provided by this report is based on psychological science, making it an especially valuable tool for students, parents, and teachers who wish to promote effective learning. Although there are many reasons why students struggle in school, these learning techniques, when used properly, should help provide meaningful gains in classroom performance, achievement test scores, and many other tasks students will encounter across their lifespan," the report's authors write.
What is your go-to studying strategy? Tell us in the comments.
