The Science of Studying
Whether we like it or not, studying is a crucial part of the educational experience. Whether you’re trying to memorize muscles in the body or quizzing yourself on the details surrounding a certain period of history, the truth about studying is that not all methods are created equal. I don’t remember a ton from my own high school experiences to be honest, but I do remember that there wasn’t nearly as much discussion about HOW to study as there was WHAT to study (something that seems a shame in hindsight). I wonder how many of my classmates did poorly because they didn’t actually know how to study well. Which brings us to the point of this post! Here are a few things I’ve learned since then that we all deserve to know before cracking open the books and planning for an all-nighter (spoiler: all nighters don’t actually help).
Test yourself. Frequent quizzes over material have proven to result in longer retention of content than absorbing it all and attempting to pass one large test. If your teacher doesn’t utilize quizzes in class, then create one for yourself, wait a day or two, then take it. If you do this repeatedly, you will remember more than if you don’t (Kowalski, 2020).
Don’t cram. Although this might help a little in the very (VERY) short term, it’s actually worse for long term retention. Scientists recommend planning multiple, spaced out study sessions well in advance of any test. This allows the material to “sink” deeper into your memory as you revisit it again and again throughout the studying process. A cram session is only going to give you a surface glaze of what you need to know and very little or possibly none of it, will actually stick (Kowalski, 2020).
Don’t stay up later than normal to study or push yourself to the point of exhaustion. Here’s where the night owls suffer. A Hendrix College study compared the study habits and test results of a large group of students. They found that students who stayed up late into the night studying consistently scored lower on their tests than students who got up early in the morning to fit in extra studying or kept a normal sleep routine and planned studying around it. The key here is don’t do your studying late at night. By that point, your brain is already tired from the work it's done all day. A separate study done by Harvard actually found that fatigue has a direct, negative relationship with the cortex, the part of the brain that stores information (The science of study).
Study with a friend. Ask each other questions about what you’re learning or take turns teaching each other the content instead of just rereading material. In multiple studies, students who reread content consistently scored lower than students who engaged with it actively (Kowalski, 2020).
Use pictures, visual aid, diagrams, and anything that makes ideas visible. Draw a map of what you’re learning or a timeline (Kowalski, 2020).
Lastly, make a study schedule and stick to it. High quality studying doesn’t just happen. It has to be planned (Kowalski, 2020).
References:
The science of study. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.besteducationdegrees.com/the-science-of-study/.
Kowalski, K. (2020). Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer. Science News for Students. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/top-10-tips-study-smarter-not-longer-study-skills.
Challenges/Points:
Knowing how to study well is a learned skill, and there are different approaches to it.
Cramming doesn’t actually help in the long run. Instead, study in separate, scheduled chunks of time.
Quizzing yourself over material or teaching others is a powerful way to absorb knowledge deeper.
Questions:
How have you tended to study in the past?
Are any of these ways of studying new to you?
What is one class you can start using a new study technique for this week?
To talk more about this or something else on your mind text the number 494949 to chat with our team or visit RemedyLIVE.com/chat anytime, day or night.
Did someone send you this post, and you want to subscribe to our free self care guide? Text CARE to 494949 to receive daily posts.
