ADVERTISEMENTS:
A problem faced by many young individuals is that of studying more effectively. Researchers in psychology have made a few suggestions in this regard.
Some of these are given below:
a. It has been found that regularity of study timings improves our understanding and learning. The individual will do well to set apart regular hours of study and also a fixed place for his study. This contributes towards better concentration. Once such regularity is established, it is possible for the individual to keep distractions away and concentrate on his studies. Other things do not interfere as they would otherwise.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
b. Having adopted regular hours and a place of study, the next step is to plan and distribute the study material evenly. In every subject the individual should attempt to evenly distribute the matter among the different sessions of study. Individuals normally do not adopt this practice. They study a lot on one day and relatively little on other days. Some days are overloaded and some days are under-loaded. This should be avoided.
c. While studying the individual should make sure that he has understood what he is studying. It must be remembered that studying is not reading. It is good if individuals can make it a point not to proceed further if they feel that they have not understood something or if they find it difficult to proceed further. If not, this will result in tension and interfere with effective understanding subsequently.
d. At the same time, some individuals indulge in persistent reading without any increase in understanding. Such blind persistence often proves useless, as a psychological block has probably been created. On such occasions it is better to lay the material aside, do something else and then go back to study.
e. At the end of each session of study the individual will do well to recall or review whatever he has studied. This practice in the first instance helps to strengthen and reinforce what he has learnt. Further, it also provides feedback or assessment of what he has achieved.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
f. Psychologists have referred to a controversy known as ‘whole versus part learning’. Some individuals have the habit of learning a particular lesson in small parts and thereby converting the whole material into small units. For example, in learning a poem they first learn the first stanza and then go to the second stanza and so on.
On the other hand some treat the whole poem as a unit not dividing it into stanzas. Evidence regarding this point has not been consistent. It has been found that the choice of the method depends on the nature of the material. A short poem is found to be learnt better if the whole-method is employed and a long poem by employing the part-method.
Material which has a sequential and continuous scheme is understood better if the whole-method is employed. Even where the part- method is to be adopted the material should be learnt in meaningful parts and not mechanically divided into arbitrary units.
The implication here is that effective learning ultimately depends on understanding and meaningful organisation of whatever has been learnt. Whichever is the method, i.e. whole-method or part- method, this principle should be borne in mind.
g. Closely related to this is the controversy relating to massed and spaced learning. Some individuals have the habit of sitting up for long hours trying to learn a whole lot of things within a short time. This practice may not always be helpful.
Such an effort results in very little understanding and there can be much interference between one learning and another. It is better to space our learning efforts and learn things with some gaps in between. Such a practice will allow consolidation of the learnt material and also minimise interference of one learnt material with another.
h. A very important consideration in effective learning is the interest and motivation involved. The individual must develop an interest in what he is trying to learn and be able to enjoy the learning experience. Unfortunately, many individuals learn only because there is an impending examination. Such a practice does not lead to real learning. This is only rote memorizing. The result is that they find that on the day of the examination or afterwards they have forgotten everything.
i. Effective learning ultimately depends on what is called comprehension. If a individual tries to relate his understandings from different learning activities and gets to know the relationships among them the learning will be more effective.
Similarly, study will become more effective if he develops an attitude of trying to find evidence for whatever he has learnt in day-to-day situation. Such an approach will make learning more meaningful, and interesting, thus, resulting in greater motivation and also consolidation of what he has learnt.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
j. Yet another positive effect of this practice will be what has been called “transfer of learning.” The important purpose of education is to equip the individual with the ability to transfer his knowledge to other situations particularly in everyday situations.
This depends on the person’s ability to be sensitive to similarities and differences among situations. A individual who looks for confirmation and validation of acquired knowledge in daily situations will certainly be better equipped to achieve this transfer of learning.
We have here attempted to outline some of the basic methods and principles of effective study. It can be readily seen that these are all interrelated and not independent principles. Further, these principles together constitute an overall approach to learning or studying.
It is not possible for anyone to claim that he is following a few of these principles and not the other. A person who does this will be deceiving himself. All the above principles involve conscious efforts and are not mechanical practices.
There is no magical solution which will help us in effective learning or studying. But the individual will find that once these basic principles are understood and adopted the learning process will become easy, enjoyable and effective.