Question

Suppose you are tutoring a child to help him or her prepare for a history test in school. What specific study techniques would you suggest based on the research on information processing? What evidence is there that they will work? (You should target the strategies for a particular age based on what that child could do but wouldn't do spontaneously.)

Answer 1

Based on research on information processing, specific study techniques for a child preparing for a history test include elaborative rehearsal, self-reference effect, and distributed practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on research on information processing, there are several study techniques that can help a child prepare for a history test:

1. Elaborative rehearsal: Encourage the child to think deeply about the information and make meaningful connections. For example, they can visualize related images or link the new information to concepts they already know.
2. Self-reference effect: Have the child make the material personally meaningful to them. They can write notes in their own words, relate the material to their own life, or connect it to other subjects they have learned.
3. Distributed practice: Advise the child to study across multiple short sessions over time, instead of cramming it all in at once. This allows for better memory consolidation and prevents information overload.

These techniques have been supported by research and have been shown to improve learning and memory retention.