Final answer:
Mario is using the self-reference effect by making the study material personally meaningful to him, a strategy known to improve information retention and retrieval from long-term memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mario is demonstrating the self-reference effect when he applies information from his Lifespan Development class to his own life in order to better retain the material. This is because the self-reference effect refers to the tendency for individuals to have better memory for information that relates to oneself, thus enhancing memory retention.
As he's relating the material to his own experiences, he is engaging in elaborative rehearsal, which involves thinking about the meaning of the information and connecting it to already existing knowledge. This process aids in moving information from short-term to long-term memory, making it easier to retrieve when needed. Additionally, the strategy of relating new concepts to personal experiences can create a web of retrieval cues that supports easier access to the material during the test.