Students are ideally expected to adopt research-backed study methods like self-testing, spaced repetition, and retrieval techniques, which have been shown to improve academic performance and comprehension.

However, in reality, many students stick to familiar but less effective study habits, such as re-reading texts, indiscriminate highlighting, or jotting down random notes.

A pioneering 2018 review of numerous studies on study techniques proposed that to incorporate evidence-based methods into students' study routines, educators should aim to refine the strategies students already use. The strategy should begin with the students' current practices.

"Given students' preference for these strategies, explaining their advantages and drawbacks can help them use them more effectively," said the research team from Washington University in St. Louis.

For example, students might prefer rereading a text before a history exam, but they might not be aware that making slight changes, such as taking breaks during reading and summarizing or questioning in between, can greatly enhance their understanding.

These minor adjustments also introduce students to more effective strategies they might not have considered. Incorporating self-testing into their rereading can serve as an introduction to these advanced techniques.

Here are strategies to improve common study habits and introduce students to more sophisticated methods:

Enhancing Rereading Practices

Many students mistakenly believe that rereading a passage multiple times ensures comprehension. This method is passive and can lead to a false sense of mastery, according to experts.

To improve this approach, encourage students to spread out their readings. Studies show that spaced readings, akin to spaced practice, result in better memory retention than immediate rereading.

In a 1987 study mentioned in the review, students who took a 30-minute break after their initial reading and before their second reading had superior recall compared to those who did not take a break.

Students can further enhance rereading by including retrieval practice. After the first reading, have them summarize in their own words, self-quiz, or create quick concept maps to identify gaps in knowledge and focus their subsequent reading session.

Conscious Highlighting and Underlining

Students often turn to highlighting text, thinking it aids in memory retention. While there is evidence that highlighted information is better recalled, students frequently highlight too little or non-essential information.

With proper guidance, students can significantly improve this skill. A 2022 study demonstrated that a few hours of instruction on effective highlighting techniques can lead to a substantial increase in effectiveness.

Simple advice includes advising students to avoid highlighting on the first read, which can help them identify key points and engage more actively with the text.

UCLA's Rebecca Alber suggests teaching students to analyze key textual features before reading, such as the text's purpose and audience, to guide their highlighting.

Proactive Note-Taking

Like highlighting, note-taking is a prevalent study method. However, how students take and utilize notes can greatly affect their effectiveness.

When students aim to copy lectures verbatim, note-taking becomes less effective. This surface-level processing can impede learning by preventing deeper engagement