Study Techniques That Actually Work (According to Research)

Being a psychology student has its perks. One of them is access to actual research on how humans learn. And let me tell you, a lot of popular study advice doesn't hold up.

What Doesn't Work (Sorry)

Let's get the bad news out of the way first.

Highlighting and Rereading

I know, I know. These feel productive. You're engaged with the material, you're marking important things... but the research is pretty clear that these are among the least effective study strategies. They create an illusion of familiarity without actually strengthening memory.

Learning Styles

The idea that some people are "visual learners" and others are "auditory learners" is incredibly popular. It's also not well-supported by evidence. People might have preferences, but matching teaching style to supposed learning style doesn't improve outcomes.

What Actually Works

Now for the good stuff.

Spaced Repetition

Spreading your study sessions out over time is one of the most robust findings in learning science. Cramming might feel efficient, but you'll forget most of it within days. Spacing creates stronger, longer-lasting memories.

I use Anki for flashcards now, and the difference in retention for my exams has been noticeable.

Active Recall

Testing yourself on material—rather than just reviewing it—is incredibly effective. Every time you successfully retrieve information, you strengthen the memory trace.

This is why practice tests, flashcards, and even just closing your book and trying to recall what you read are so powerful.

Interleaving

Instead of practicing one type of problem until you master it before moving on, mixing up different types during practice sessions leads to better learning. It's harder in the moment, but the struggle is part of what makes it effective.

My Current System

Based on all this, here's what I actually do now:

First pass through material with active note-taking (not highlighting)
Create Anki cards for key concepts
Practice retrieval regularly with spaced repetition
Mix up topics during study sessions
Do practice problems under test-like conditions

It's not glamorous, but it works. And knowing why it works makes it easier to stick with.