Background: College students often do not retain what they learn in Statistics in order to apply it in Experimental Psychology. Self-explanation, that is, elaborating on what one is trying to learn by asking questions, making inferences, etc., improves learning and may improve retention. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine…

Background: Psychology courses provide a good opportunity for instructors to teach students effective learning strategies integrated with content. Objective: This replication and extension study explored changes in students' self-reported use of learning strategies before and after a term paper assignment and examined the relationships between…

Background: Instructors and students are on a continuing quest to identify predictors of learning. Objective: This study examines the associations between self-reported exam score and study techniques among students in two courses, Introductory Psychology and Computer Science. Method: We used an online survey to measure the extent students (N =…

Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are psychological needs that may be particularly important for instructors to address in learning-to-learn courses, which are designed to support college students' personal development and academic success. Guided by self-determination theory, in this qualitative study we focused on the learning-to-learn…

This preliminary randomized controlled experiment evaluated the effects of a single classroom mindfulness educational session, versus an active contact control activity (study skills review), on college students' mindfulness meditation frequency and self-reported stress, anxiety, and self-regulation. Those in the intervention group reported…

The present study investigated the use of multiple digital media technologies, including social networking platforms, by students while preparing for an examination (media multitasking) and the subsequent effects on exam performance. The level of media multitasking (number of simultaneous media technologies) and duration of study were used as…

This article addresses factors associated with student success in online psychology courses. Prior to beginning an online course, students completed measures of self-discipline and motivation, time commitment, study skills, preference for text-based learning, access to technology, and technology experience. Schrum and Hong (2002) proposed that…

Notes three obstacles to improving academic consultation to students: (1) lack of knowledge of techniques to improve student performance; (2) reduction of barriers between students and professors; and (3) needed reinforcements for professors. Suggests strategies for overcoming those problems. (CK)

Self-management techniques--e.g., self-monitoring and self-recording--designed to increase the amount of time a student studies had positive results in this study involving undergraduate psychology students. Increases of one letter grade were obtained, and the majority of the students continued use of the methods. (RM)

Describes a study comparing the test performance of students taking a course in introductory psychology with the quality of notes taken during lectures. Findings showed students failed tests because they did not review and learn the information in their notes. (CK)

I tested whether students' scores on the semester's first exam would change their reported use of textbook pedagogical aids during the course of the semester. I assessed 240 introductory psychology undergraduates early and late in the semester. The reported use of aids did not positively relate to student performance on any exams and showed only…

Students who wish to get bad grades should daydream, not read their textbooks or study manuals, avoid note taking, and procrastinate on assignments. This "manual" is used in an introductory psychology class to modify students' habits and change mediocre classroom behavior. (CS)

Describes two studies which examined the relationship of student study skill levels to student evaluation of their own and their teacher's performance and the difficulty of course examinations. Participants in both studies were students enrolled in introductory college psychology courses. The combined results of the two studies were inconclusive.…

Based on observations made in an introductory psychology course, the author offers suggestions to instructors who use the lecture-textbook-test method of instruction. States that students should be taught appropriate study and note-taking skills and that they should be encouraged to ask questions when they encounter difficulty. (GEA)

A computerized study system that is being used in an introductory psychology course is described. A total of 2,000 multiple-choice test items have been catalogued by chapter and page number and stored on hard disk. The student selects the chapter to be reviewed and is given randomly selected test items. (RM)