THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING VARIOUS STUDY TECHNIQUES ON ACHIEVEMENT, STUDY HABITS, AND STUDY ATTITUDES

The relative effectiveness of various kinds of study techniques for modifying college students\u27 examination scores and final course grades was investigated in this experiment. Fifty-six volunteer students taking the same psychology course were randomly assigned to three treatment and one control groups, with an additional 14 students from the same course in a matched no-contact control group. The study skills treatment groups were: (a) Reading, (b) Note taking, and (c) Test taking. In addition, all treatment groups received training in self-control techniques in an attempt to facilitate use of the study methods. Behavioral objectives were used to insure a uniform level of competency in the newly taught study techniques, and all treatments were delivered in small groups over a period of four weeks. The dependent measures were: (a) course examination scores, (b) the final course grade, (c) scores on an experimenter-devised simulated course test, (d) a behavioral check list, (e) pre- and posttest scores on the SSHA, and (f) a subject evaluation of the experiment questionnaire. Results indicated that subjects in the treatment groups scored significantly higher on final course grades than did control subjects, and there was a trend in the same direction for the course examination scores. No differences were present among the three experimental groups; all study techniques facilitated learning equally