| Technique | What to Do |
|---|
| Survey | Skim the contents to determine what may be useful to you: review questions, learning objectives, chapter summaries. Identify main ideas and concepts. |
| Question | Note any questions that arise after your survey. Create an outline to help organize your study based on the questions you generate. |
| Read | Read through your chapter and take notes on the content. |
| Recall | Go over the material you have read in your mind. Identify key points and crucial processes. Discuss how other material supports the key points and processes. |
| Review | Reread the material, and include additional material to enhance your notes. “Teach” the material to someone else. |
| Individualize the process | Break down the reading into small sections you can read, recall, and review effectively. |
| Space your study | Build in breaks and spread the study sessions over time. |
| Minimize distractions | Focus on the task at hand; multitasking while studying diverts attention, resulting in more time spent learning the material. |
| Test frequently | Test yourself frequently. Low-stakes feedback provides an opportunity to learn the material and retain it longer. |
| Sleep | Get enough rest. Good sleep helps us learn new material and retain it. |
| Included in this table are tips for improving your memory and long-term retention of new information. These ideas can be applied not only in your psychology class, but also to other courses and life situations. |
| SOURCES: ALFIRDAUS (2012); ROEDIGER, PUTNAM, & SMITH (2011); ROHRER & TAYLOR (2006). |