Evidence-Based Study Techniques: What Actually Works According to Science | Chapterly Blog
Evidence-Based Study Techniques: What Actually Works According to Science Quick Answer: The two highest-rated study techniques in the cognitive-psychology literature are practice testing (active recall) and distributed practice (spaced repetition) — both rated "high utility" in the landmark Dunlosky et al. 2013 review. The two most popular techniques — rereading and highlighting — are rated "low utility" in the same review. Most students study for hundreds of hours using techniques that don't work and skip the ones that do. The fix is mostly a matter of switching which behaviors you do, not adding more time. Most students and lifelong learners rely on study techniques that feel productive but produce poor results. Rereading notes, highlighting textbooks, and cramming before exams are among the most popular study methods and among the least effective. This is not speculation. Decades of cognitive science research have tested these methods rigorously and the results are clear. A landmark 2013 review by Dunlosky and colleagues evaluated ten common study techniques against the available research evidence. Their findings surprised many educators: the techniques students use most often ranked among the least effective, while the most powerful techniques were rarely used. This article summarizes what cognitive science tells us...