Examining students' retrospective memories of strategy development.

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to assess students' self-reported use of cognitive study strategies. Both studies used a written survey to assess where and when students were introduced to their preferred study strategies. The 1st study compared high school and university students. The 2nd study compared university students' recollections of strategy use in high school with their present study behaviors. Results from the 2 studies were consistent. All groups, at all times in their education, regardless of course difficulty, preferred repetition strategies. Students were aware of other more sophisticated strategies but used them to a lesser extent. What was most compelling was students' indication that strategy instruction was a late addition to their educational experience, with many indicating high school as their 1st encounter with strategy instruction. These reports suggest that students' dependence on repetition strategies may be a product of the lack of familiarity and flexibility in the execution of more sophisticated strategies.