Lack of Knowledge and Lack of Will: Why Don't Students Use Effective Strategies?

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Self-Regulated Learning Strategies

Abstract

Prior literature has shown that students often do not study effectively. Is this because they do not know what strategies are effective or because they choose not to use them? In study 1 (N = 200), we asked participants to describe how the ideal student would prepare for an exam. Responses indicated that participants were mostly unable to distinguish between more effective and less effective strategies. What if students were directly taught the strategies? In study 2 (N = 38), undergraduates who learned about effective strategies in an educational psychology course still did not consistently report using effective strategies. They attributed their low use of effective strategies mainly to cost in time (67%), anxiety (30%), and low efficacy (24%).

Authors

• Lisi Wang, The University of Texas at Austin

• Katherine M. Muenks, University of Texas at Austin

• Veronica X Yan, The University of Texas at Austin