The comprehensive study system

In addition to the process of reification, there are a number of other study strategies that research is showing to be more effective than traditional study practices. In their book Make It Stick, cognitive psychologists Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel give the following recommendations for studying:

• When learning from a textbook, use the key terms from the back of each chapter to test yourself.
• List out key terms and use each one in a paragraph; this will test to see if you understand a concept outside of the realm of how the textbook or instructor supplied it.
• While reading new material, convert the main concepts into a series of questions and then go back and answer the questions when you're done reading the chapter.
• Rephrase the main ideas in your own words as you go through the material.
• Relate the main concepts to your own experiences, much like the reification process we've already discussed.
• Look for examples of key concepts outside of the text. When I'm learning a new programming language I never rely on a single source. If I come across a concept that doesn't make sense I'll usually review 2- 3 other sources that provide alternative explanations to what I'm attempting to learn.