Waldron 1

Taylon Waldron
English 1201-503
Professor Cassel
11 July 2015
Whats the best way to study?
Have you ever dreaded that big test coming up? Didnt know how to study? Or, feel your
studying isnt paying off? You may be studying in a way that is not getting you the most out of
your time and effort. There is always so much to study and so many ways to do it, so how do you
know if you are studying in the most effective way possible? As a future teacher and student
myself, I want to find the best ways to study and make my studying most effective. I want the
tips and techniques to make the most of my time and get the best results. Those who do not know
the best techniques for studying can cause a problem in their academic life. Students should
become more aware and implement effective study tips because it can increase academic
success. Using techniques like regulating sleep, exercising, being positive, setting goals, using
methods of retrieval, studying in various locations, and studying in shorts amount of time can
help a student. Those tips will help to make study time more beneficial and can help to improve
grades and success rates in school.
A common study habit or tip is to find a quiet place and always study there. In the New
York Times article by Benedict Carey, he explains that studying in only one spot is not proven to
be the most effective study technique. Your brain subconsciously associates learning the material
with background details of your location. So, it is most beneficial to vary the locations you are
studying at. In doing so, the material will be more thoroughly learned when it is connected with

Waldron 2
various locations. (Carey) Cramming is another technique many students use to prepare for a
test. Although this technique sometimes works for tests, it is not beneficial for your learning.
Another study technique in the New York Times article is to study for short increments over
multiple days instead of for a long period of time. Studying that way requires more thinking and
referring to the material so it is learned in a more effective way. (Carey) The article provides a
student with two good tips, studying in varying locations and studying in short increments of
time.
Next, it is found that study skills and motivation are directly related. In Perspectives on
Psychological Science, a journal by Marcus Crede and Nathan Kuncel study habits, skills, and
attitudes are discussed. The article concludes that study skills and study motivation have strong
relationships with grade point average and grades in single classes. As well as, study habits and
skills are factors that help increase academic performance. It breaks down study skills, habits,
and attitudes into four areas. They are delay avoidance, work methods, educational acceptance,
and teacher approval. Those who have self-regulation, self-monitoring, sense of responsibility,
and values on learning tend to do the best. The studies show that student who show interest and
are highly motivated to learn perform better. (Crede and Kuncel) So with Crede and Kuncels
findings in mind it is best to focus on the four areas to improve your overall study habits and
increase your academic performance. Delay avoidance is one area, to improve that, focusing on
not procrastinating and getting your work done as soon as possible is a way to combat it. Work
methods that can be used are ones like changing up your study space and studying in short
increments. Educational acceptance and teacher approval can be gained by attending class and
talking to your teacher about your work.

Waldron 3
In Crede and Kuncels findings students who have self-regulation, self-monitoring, sense
of responsibility and values on learning tend to receive the best results. In another article found
by Timothy Frank and Lauren Scharf, published in the Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and
Learning, those methods are somewhat applied in a different way. The strategies they discuss are
motivation, self- direction, and commitment. It focused on how the student needs those strategies
to promote academic performance. Frank and Scharf found that many students were struggling in
an engineering class. In an effort to help the students out they created a learning contract. The
learning contract was designed to focus on the strategies students need for academic success.
They asked students who were struggling after the first part of the semester and if the student
agreed and wanted to participate in the learning contract together they developed one
personalized towards their needs. The contract focused on a plan, commitment, motivation,
positive actions, achievement, and self-efficacy. So, the students created plans that included
getting the readings completed, the homework done, spending time studying for the exams, and
going to professor office hours for help. The results showed that those students who made a plan
and focused more on reading and homework and participated in office hours all showed
improvement. The learning contract being implemented brought out the qualities of motivation,
self-direction, and commitment and those students who followed through with it had improved
grades. (Frank and Scharf) This articles findings leaves you with a great idea to make a learning
contract or to set some goals to keep you on track. That plan will be able to help you stay focused
in your time spend and make improvements in your academic performance.
Following that, an article posted in Learning and Individual Differences by Paulo Moreira
found motivational ideas were a good technique. The studies show that using persistence and
motivational factors were the best way to increase students academic performance. Those who

Waldron 4
use multi-dimensional ways to study have the best results. Academic goals was a method used to
find improvement. (Moreira) That shows even more evidence where the academic goals are
important for a students success.
Additionally, there are other study skills that provide help for achieving academic
success. The College Student Journal database has an article by Simon Lei from ITT Technical
Institute. In the article by Simon Lei, it discusses study patterns that are best for college students
to succeed. Study time, study location, and educational implications are three ideas they
mentioned. Managing study time is an important factor. A student should plan to spend two hours
for every one hour in class to devote enough time for the material. A positive way mentioned to
stay focused on studying is incorporating study breaks and using time in between classes to get
studying in. Time in between classes is good because it is a short amount of time and can help to
better spend your time instead of wasting it. Finding an ideal study location is also important to
academic success. If a student can find a few locations and rotate through them, it can prevent
getting burnt out at one particular location. (Lei) The rotation of locations is also suggested by
Benedict Carey from the New York Times. It is very important to plan your time for studying,
which is a way to make sure you are able to devote the adequate amount of time needed.
A paper by Nasrudin Rahim and Hasni Mehon, who are both professors at universities
focuses on the topic of study habits. This paper contains a study they performed relating to
academic performance based on study skills. It tested the skills of test-taking, note-taking,
textbook study, concentration and memory, analytical thinking, and problem solving. Students
who exceled and focused on those study skills were shown to have a higher GPA. It concludes
that study skills have a correlation with academic acheivement. (Rahim and Mehon) The skills

Waldron 5
mentioned in this paper, are ones students commonly hear like studying from your textbook,
taking notes, and taking tests.
There is also techniques you can do that will help your health as well as your studying
and learning. In a book written by two college professors and neuroscientists, Terry Doyle and
Todd Zakrajesk, information is given on study tips that improve the way students learn and how
to achieve the most academic success. The New Science of Learning explains that through
research it is found exercising regularly, sleep schedules, positive mindsets, practicing
information, and paying attention are all ways to learn more effectively and improve your grades.
One example given is exercise. Exercising regularly stimulates parts of your brain you need to
learn. If that is not stimulated you will have a more difficult time trying to retain material. (Doyle
and Zakrajsek) The parts of your brain that are stimulated by exercising help keep your brain
active and ready to learn. It is like exercise is something a student should be doing to make the
most out of their time spent studying. The exercise will not only make you feel refreshed, but
your mind as well. Mindsets are also important. A growth versus fixed mindset is discussed in
the book. If you have a fixed mindset and are negative about learning and the subject and feel
you will not get it, you will have a harder time. Those practicing a growth mindset and are more
positive towards the subject are more likely to learn better and improve. (Doyle and Zakrajsek)
Sleeping regularly is also another very important factor. Without rest, your brain will not be able
to function to its full potential. Without it functioning at its peak the studying will not be most
effective. The New Science of learning also explains practicing information is important. That is
shown to be true from Benedict Careys article as well. The practicing of information you are
learning is a way to make sure you understand it better and learn in thoroughly.

Waldron 6

Fig. 1 Shows a student writing while studying, could be using a method of retrieval (Varghese)

The more you study something and then go back and answer a question
about it, you are studying better because that task requires comprehension and understanding of
the material, instead of just memorization. When the retrieval process is completed the
information is now more permanent in your brain by the path you made to retrieve it. (Doyle and
Zakrajsek)
All in all, many sources provided different, yet similar information on the best ways to
study to achieve academic success and stay focused. If you follow The Science of Learning and
regulate your sleep and exercise your mind and body will be ready to go. Make a plan and set
goals for yourself, to help find the inner motivation and mindset you need. Try to rotate your
study locations and avoid cramming, and use techniques like the practice tests to achieve
retrieval. Then you will be set to make the most out of your time and have the best study skills to
perform to the best of your abilities. These tips and habits I have found through research give me
the insight to be the best student I can be. I cannot wait to use them in my future studying.
.

Waldron 7
Works Cited
Carey, Benedict. "Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits." New York Times 26
September 2010. Web.
Cred, Marcus, and Nathan R. Kuncel. "Study Habits, Skills, and Attitudes: The Third Pillar
Supporting Collegiate Academic Performance." Perspectives on Psychological Science
2008: 425. JSTOR Journals. Web. 26 June 2015.
Doyle, Terry and Todd Zakrajsek. The New Science of Learning. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus
Publishing, LLC, 2013. Print.
Frank, Timothy, and Lauren F. V Scharf. "Learning Contracts In Undergraduate Courses: Impacts
On Student Behaviors And Academic Performance." Journal Of The Scholarship Of
Teaching And Learning 13.4 (2013): 36-53. ERIC. Web. 26 June 2015.
Lei, Simon A. "Variation In Study Patterns Among College Students: A Review Of Literature."
College Student Journal 49.2 (2015): 195-198. Education Research Complete. Web. 26
June 2015.
Moreira, Paulo A. S., et al. "Predictors Of Academic Performance And School Engagement-Integrating Persistence, Motivation And Study Skills Perspectives Using Person-Centered
And Variable-Centered Approaches." Learning And Individual Differences 24.(2013):
117-125. ERIC. Web. 26 June 2015.
Rahim, Nasrudin Md and Hasni Mehon. "Relationships between Study Skills and Academic ." 3
June 2014. Research Gate. Web. 21 June 2015.

Waldron 8
Varghese, Sivi. Study Habits. Photograph. Better Health. BlogSpot, 26 April 2014. Web. 13
July 2015.