Improving Self-Regulated Learning of Undergraduates through a Prospective Memory Intervention: A Pilot Study

Undergraduates may struggle to finish degree requirements due to factors such as poor academic self-efficacy and goal management. The cognitive rehabilitation literature has found that prospective memory (PM) skill training has improved goal attainment in older adult and brain-injured populations. Due to the ongoing brain development supporting PM in emerging adults, cognitive rehabilitation approaches also may help improve function and academic self-efficacy. Thirty-nine undergraduate students (25 female) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: PM skills training (n = 21) or relaxation training (n = 18). PM was assessed immediately before and 2 to 14 days after intervention using self-report and performance PM measures and mood and academic self-efficacy questionnaires. PM training emphasized implementation intention, cue monitoring, and use of external aids. Larger post-intervention gains were expected in the PM condition. PM performance and academic self-efficacy measures showed significant main effects for time (p \u3c .01). Effect sizes (ω2partial) were .12 for an updated version of the Royal Prince Albert (RPA) PM test, .21 for Self-Efficacy for Learning form, .25 for a time-based PM measure embedded in a working memory test, .37 for an event-based PM task incorporated into a semantic memory test, and .08 for a self-report measure of stress. Only the RPA showed a significant interaction between time and condition; however, this interaction reflected a decline after relaxation and stability after PM training. The interaction for the time-based PM measure approached significance (p = .07) and was in the expected direction. Self-reported PM did not show significant change. A single-session PM intervention shows promise for improving PM performance and academic self-efficacy. Self-reported PM showed no consistent effect from this intervention in the current form. Further exploration of this intervention in a long-term context is warranted