Study skills were an early and important topic in reading; however, since the 1970s, they have received relatively little research attention. The authors systematically analyzed the research conducted on study skills from 1900 to the present. Several themes emerged including: (a) motivation and affect; (b) activities described; (c) metacognition;…

Advocates the teaching of study skills in place of speed reading in college reading programs. (RB)

Examines the effectiveness of the SQ3R study technique in enhancing comprehension of material in an introductory psychology textbook. Finds significantly better performance on tests of recall or conceptual items for students using SQ3R than for those using individual study methods. (RS)

Provides study skills, reading efficiency, and reading effectiveness tests designed to show the student that his reading is actually improving. (RW)

Describes the study skills center at California State University, San Diego, which has achieved considerable success in improving students' basic writing skills by offering a set of minicourses in cooperation with the English and business departments. (FL)

Investigates effects of explicit instruction in notetaking. Suggests that explicit instruction in notetaking is effective in improving sixth-grade students' lecture comprehension and attitudes toward notetaking. Notes that future research may emphasize a longer treatment period with a delayed comprehension measure. (RS)

Details a study of the reading-study skills course at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, that was performed to assess the effectiveness of the program in terms of academic progress and student retention. Reports positive and significant results. (FL)

Notes that Guided Design is a teaching strategy that can be used to increase high school and college students' comprehension when reading and studying. Describes implementation of Guided Design and a summary of one student's application of Guided Design to the comprehension of a difficult chapter in a cognitive psychology textbook. (RS)

Finds no difference in test scores of students who underlined a passage and students who did not underline; for those students who followed their normal study patterns, the scores of underliners were significantly lower; and increased retention of underlined material was more than offset by decreased retention of nonunderlined material. (RS)

Describes the suggested use of three types of reading/study guides (K-W-L, Selective Reading Guide-O-Rama, and Levels of Comprehension) which can be used with students at all levels of academic and learning proficiency to help them read their textbooks with understanding. (RS)

Notes that the literature suggests that study skills can be arranged into learner selected objectives, strategies, and habits that facilitate independent learning. Describes each of these in terms of specific skills. (FL)

Concludes that (1) self-assessment is useful as an indicator of student strengths and weaknesses, (2) college freshmen perceive themselves as more competent than do high school students, and (3) female students at all levels perceive themselves as more competent than do their male counterparts. Contains a copy of the assessment instrument. (FL)

To be successful in nursing courses, students must be able to read and comprehend a large volume of information. This requires different types of reading and study skills from other courses to which they have been exposed. The formal teaching of these skills in a nursing course takes second place to the teaching of required nursing skills. Because…

Suggests that a directed reading and study skill use of content periodicals as a supplementary aid can produce measurable reading comprehension gains and observable content area enrichment. (JM)

Describes the Learning Skills Program at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, which offers students assistance in developing reading, writing, study, and listening skills. (TO)