Developing sound study habits - 7 steps

Psychologists have been investigating the process of learning and education since
the early part of this century. Their research findings suggest that academic
performance can be significantly increased through a systematic approach to study.
It is therefore surprising that our educational system generally provides minimal
instruction on good study habits and techniques. As a result, many students and
adults never realise their full potential because of misconceptions, fallacies and
misunderstanding about the process of study.
Effective sudy habits are crucial to success in acquiring knowledge, whether this is
in school, college or in the workforce. There is a tendency for some people to
boast that they do not need to study to achieve good results, but if they do achieve
good results you can be sure they do study. This tendency to boast is to do with
self-image. They want to be perceived as extremely bright rather than studious
people.
This tendency to boast is the source of the most common fallacy - "You dont need
to study very hard to get by. I know people who never study and still get top
marks". There are variations of this, but the essence is that performance is the
result of natural ability rather than effort.
Have you ever suffered from procrastination? If you have, you may be a victim of
this fallacy because it is often the driving force behind procrastination.
Procrastinators put off work until the last possible moment and often can only
work when under extreme pressure of deadlines. They often stay away from
classes, fabricate reasons for late work and feel ashamed of their last-minute
approach (Burka and Yuen 1981). Procrastination, even when it doesnt result in
failure, is often a cause of much suffering.
Psychologists Jane Burka and Lenora Yuen, who have worked with
procrastinators, observed that many students seem to believe that their self-worth
is directly linked to their ability and their performance. The reasoning goes
something like this. If you are in college or university you must be smart - and
smart people dont study very hard (fallacy). If they achieve a good result, this puts
them in the category of the smart people and this has the effect of reinforcing
procrastination.
Failure, however, causes a dilemma. If I am smart, how come my results are so

poor. Procrastination offers a way out of this dilemma - students can blame their
poor work on their late start, distractions and so on, rather than lack of ability after all, it wasnt their best effort, was it?
This leads to the first and crucial step in developing sound study habits.

7 Steps to effective study habits

The following 7 steps are based on the work of Johnson, Springer and Sternglanz
in relation to time management.

Step 1 : Acknowledge that whilst learning can be immensely satisfying and

life changing, it requires a sustained, consistent effort on your part. Success is
99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

Step 2 : Set up a schedule for studying. A formal schedule is vital to an

effective study program. Setting up a schedule will do much to prevent
procrastination and also maintain motivation. By setting aside definite times for
study you will also demonstrate your commitment to your goals and help maintain
motivation.
To prepare your schedule, it is recommended that you work in weeks. Make a
chart showing all of the hours in each of the week. Then fill in this schedule with
the various activities you plan to do
Dont forget to leave open or free times. (IPC Club Member is a computer
program specially developed for this purpose. You can download copy from this
site.)
Such an approach to scheduling should help you avoid cramming for exams at the
last minute. Cramming is an ineffective study strategy for most students
(Zechmeister & Nyberg, 1982). It strains memory, making long term retention
difficult, it also saps your energy and can cause test anxiety.
When planning your schedule try to avoid putting off working on major tasks such

as term papers and reports. Time-Management studies point out that we tend to
tackle simple, routine tasks first, leaving larger tasks for later when we supposedly
will have more time. This common tendency leads to repeatedly delay working on
major assignments until it is too late. Break down major assignments down into
smaller component tasks and schedule them individually.

Step 3 : Find a place where you can study and concentrate. It is important to
find a place where you can study without distractions. Most people cannot study
effectively while the TV or CD is on, or while other people are talking. Having a
specific place for study forms an association with studying and can serve as a
behavioral cue for concentration. Other places may serves as cues for other
activities, for instance, studying in the kitchen may evoke a cue for eating rather
than studying.

Step 4 : Keep a record of your study activities and review on a weekly basis. It
is vitally important that you get accurate information about how much time are
you currently spending in study each week. This forms your baseline or starting
point. Use this as a measure of your progress.. Ask questions like, "What are the
reasons for poor performance and also for good performance?", If I'm not
spending enough time in study where am I spending the time?' In this way you can
refine your study approach. Graphical representation of the information can be a
useful way to monitor your study efforts. Programs like IPC Club Member are
designed specifically for this purpose. You can get IPC Club Member from this
site.

Step 5 : Reward your studying. One reason why it is so difficult to be

motivated to study is that the reward is often in the distant future. A degree may be
years away, an exam not due for months. To overcome this problem give yourself
immediate tangible rewards for successful study, such as a snack, TV show, time
with friends and so on.

Step 6 : Be alert to activities which may reinforce bad study habits. Behavioral

studies have consistently shown the power of rewards. However, be very careful in
how you reward yourself. Make sure that you are not using rewards to reinforce a
negative attitude to learning. One research study involving a student who had
problems with concentration showed her interrupting her study every 10 to 15
minutes with breaks for drinks, TV and snacks. Every time she stopped for drinks
etc, she was reinforcing the habit of interrupting her studies. She finally managed
to break this habit in the same way she formed it, through the process of rewards.
She set a goal that she would not reward herself until she completed a set amount
of time in study. Gradually she increased the amount of time spent in study until
she could study for hours with full concentration

Step 7 : Have the right attitude. Students who complain that the subject matter
is boring miss the main point. It is not the subject or the teacher who will make the
course interesting. Interest is a matter of your attitude. Nobody can make you
interested unless you want to be interested. If you bring an inquiring mind, a
positive attitude to your studies, you will find learning exciting, challenging, and
interesting. If you wait passively to be entertained you will find learning a chore.