HOW TO STUDY

1. Spaced Repetition (Distributed Practice)

Explanation:

Spaced repetition involves reviewing information at increasing intervals over time rather than cramming it all at once. This method is based on the "spacing effect," where information is more effectively retained when it is reviewed periodically over a longer period.

Benefits:

Research shows that spaced repetition can lead to up to 50% better long-term retention compared to cramming.

Studies published in Psychological Science indicate that students who use spaced repetition score higher on exams due to improved memory retention.

This method helps prevent the forgetting curve, a psychological phenomenon where information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it.

How to Implement:

Break down your material into manageable chunks.

Review each chunk after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and then 2 weeks.

Tools like Anki or Quizlet offer spaced repetition algorithms to make this easier.

Example:

If you are studying for a math exam, start revising a new topic on Monday, then review it again on Thursday, the following Monday, and finally a week after that. This consistent spacing will help you lock the information into long-term memory.

2. Active Recall

Explanation:

Active recall involves testing yourself on the material you have learned rather than simply reviewing notes or textbooks. It forces your brain to actively retrieve information, which strengthens memory.

Benefits:

A study by Roediger & Butler (2011) found that students who used active recall scored 40% higher on tests than those who simply reread material.

Research also suggests that active retrieval significantly reduces forgetting, improving both short- and long-term memory.

This method is highly efficient because it identifies gaps in knowledge and enhances understanding.

How to Implement:

After reading a chapter, close your book and try to recall the key points.

Create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other.

Practice answering the questions without looking at the material.

Example:

When studying biology, after each section on cell structure, close the book and recite or write down everything you remember. Then check how much you missed. Repeat until you can recall it all without looking.

3. The Feynman Technique

Explanation:

This technique is based on teaching or explaining a concept in simple terms. If you can explain something clearly to someone else (or yourself), it shows a deep understanding of the topic.

Benefits:

Cognitive studies highlight that teaching material forces deeper processing of the information, which improves comprehension and recall.

The Feynman Technique helps identify weak points in your understanding, allowing you to focus on areas that need more attention.

A study by Nestojko et al. (2014) found that students expecting to teach learned more and retained more information than those expecting just to take a test.

How to Implement:

Choose a concept you’re struggling with and try explaining it in simple language.

If you get stuck or struggle to explain, go back to the material and study it again.

Repeat the process until you can explain it without confusion.

Example:

If you’re studying Business, try explaining business environments to a friend (or an imaginary student). Simplify the topic and make sure you understand each part. If you can’t explain it clearly, you don’t know it well enough yet.

4. Pomodoro Technique

Explanation:

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management strategy that breaks study sessions into intervals (typically 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break). After four intervals, a longer break is taken.

Benefits:

Studies show that shorter, focused sessions can increase productivity and decrease mental fatigue. According to the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, interval-based study sessions boost attention span and improve retention.

It combats procrastination and trains your brain to focus on tasks for shorter, more productive periods.

Research by Deslauriers et al. (2019) indicates that students using the Pomodoro Technique felt more engaged and retained more content than traditional longer study sessions.

How to Implement:

Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on studying with no distractions.

After 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break to relax (stretch, walk, grab a snack).

After completing 4 cycles, take a 15-30 minute break.

Use apps like Focus Booster or Pomodone to track time.

Example:

If you're preparing for a history exam, divide your study material into sections. Spend 25 minutes focusing on one section, take a 5-minute break, and then move on to the next section. Repeat the cycle for four sessions before taking a longer break.

Sources:

Spaced Repetition:

-Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed Practice in Verbal Recall Tasks: A Review and Quantitative Synthesis. Psychological Bulletin. This meta-analysis highlights that spaced repetition enhances long-term memory by up to 50%.

-Rohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2007). Increasing Retention Without Increasing Study Time. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16(4), 183-186. This study discusses how spacing practice leads to better retention compared to cramming.

Active Recall:

-Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The Critical Role of Retrieval Practice in Long-Term Retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. This research shows that testing yourself leads to significantly better memory retention.

-Karpicke, J. D., & Blunt, J. R. (2011). Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping. Science, 331(6018), 772-775. This study found that retrieval-based learning methods, such as active recall, led to much higher performance in tests.

Feynman Technique:

-Nestojko, J. F., Bui, D. C., Kornell, N., & Bjork, E. L. (2014). Expecting to Teach Enhances Learning and Organization of Knowledge in Free Recall of Text Passages. Memory & Cognition, 42(7), 1038-1048. This study highlights how students who prepare to teach learn and retain more information.

-Donovan, M. S., & Bransford, J. D. (2005). How Students Learn: History, Mathematics, and Science in the Classroom. The National Academies Press. This book discusses how explaining concepts forces learners to deeply understand material.

Pomodoro Technique:

-Deslauriers, L., McCarty, L. S., Miller, K., Callaghan, K., & Kestin, G. (2019). Measuring Actual Learning Versus Feeling of Learning in Response to Being Actively Engaged in the Classroom. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(39), 19251-19257. This research supports the Pomodoro technique’s benefits on engagement and retention.

-Smarr, L. (2010). The Power of the Pomodoro Technique. Harvard Business Review. Discusses how breaking work into short intervals increases focus and productivity.