Question

Sarah decides to study for the exam for 30 minutes each night for two weeks while Donna, over this same time period, decides to stay up to study and cram for only 7 hours the night before the exam. Which of the following is most true?

a) Sarah's approach is more effective for long-term retention
b) Donna's approach is more effective for long-term retention
c) Sarah's approach is more effective for short-term retention
d) Donna's approach is more effective for short-term retention

Answer 1

Sarah's approach to studying for 30 minutes each night for two weeks is more effective for long-term retention of material, as it follows the principles of distributed practice, which is superior to Donna's cramming strategy.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the information provided, Sarah's approach is more effective for long-term retention of the material studied. The psychological studies referenced, including those by Hermann Ebbinghaus, Fergus Craik, Robert Lockhart, and others, suggest that distributed practice and deeper processing of information lead to better memorization and retention. Sarah's strategy of studying 30 minutes each night for two weeks aligns with this as it allows for consistent rehearsal and spacing of study sessions, promoting memory consolidation. On the other hand, Donna's cramming strategy may be sufficient for short-term recall but is likely to lead to quicker forgetting after the exam due to a lack of distributed practice.