CHAPTER 19

EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS

Sarat Adenike Salihu

Introduction
Studying is one of the most important learning activities for students. As no
individual is an island of knowledge, there is a need to study in order to acquire the
desired knowledge. Ibrahim (2009) avers that “to study is to devote time and attention to
the acquisition of knowledge and competence on an academic subject” (p. 10). In other
words, studying is not reading for leisure. Studying transcends simply reading notes and
textbooks. It involves the acquisition of knowledge through conscientious efforts and
certain measures for particular academic purposes or achievements.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the unit, you should be able to:
(i) differentiate between reading for leisure and studying.
(ii) identify your purpose for studying and the kind of learner you are.
(iii) list three studying strategies.
(iv) state two factors that can impede effective study skills.

Main Content
Why do we Study?
Studying is done to achieve certain goals. It has to do with learning for a particular
purpose (Ibrahim 2009). The goal or purpose of studying usually determines the extent to
which studying is done. According to Open University Strategies Handbook (2007), there
are two (2) basic goals for studying; long-term and short-term goals.
Long-term goals: Long-term goals relate to career developments. This is the acquisition
of knowledge for different future endeavours. The knowledge acquired now has a
purpose for examinations, acquisition of qualifications and other future endeavours.
Short-term goals: This involves studying meant to serve an immediate purpose. These
include assignments, discussions and even competitions. These goals will help in guiding
the students to make necessary plans.
Effective Study Skills
Effective study strategies are very important for students to be able to acquire adequate
knowledge which would help them score better grades and prepare them for other future
endeavours. Over the years, there have been specific learning approaches proffered for
students as principles for an effective study.
Types of Study Strategies
Block (1986) cited in Ibrahim (2009) identifies various study strategies which can aid an
effective acquisition of knowledge.
These include:
Personal Motivation Strategy: This stipulates that a learner must have interest in
learning. The interest would help to overcome different challenges like boredom and
stress while reading. Content Anticipation: This involves the prediction of the next
content in any reading material in the process of reading.
Nature of the Material under Study: The kind of material a learner studies is very
important to the learner’s acquisition of knowledge. A good learner should be able to
identify and read current and relevant materials and not irrelevant and out-dated
materials.
The PQRST Strategy: The PQRST technique according to Robinson (1979) includes
Previewing the Material, Question Formula, Reading for Inferences, Summarising the
Processes and Testing and Assessment. In preview, the student scans through the
research materials in order to identify significant topics and points in the text. The student
thereafter generates questions from each of the sub-topics in the text. For instance, if the
sub-topic reads “Skills for Effective Study”, a likely question would be “What are the
skills for effective study?” This would enable a better understanding of the material.
Reading for inferences requires the student to do an intensive reading in order to
identify the answers to the previously generated questions. The student would then
summarise what has been read through note-taking, diagrams and maps. The last
stage involves general assessment of what has been read through providing
answers to the question without checking the materials used.
- Other measures identified by Block (1986) cited in Ibrahim (2009) include
Memorising Strategy, Outline Strategy, Summary Skill, Time Management, Note-
Making Strategy, Recognition of Texts structure, Paraphrasing Strategy and
Information Integration. The Open University Study Strategy handbook (2007)
identifies Active learning, Learning Skills, Reflections and Management of time and
space as important strategies which help to achieve an effective study. It can be
observed that many of these strategies overlap. They would therefore be categorised
into effective study habits, organisation skills, reading and comprehension skills and
learning styles.
- Effective Study Habits: A habit deals with repeated behavioural pattern which can
help to make or mar an individual. They can be good or bad habits. A good habit
generally helps an individual to achieve set out dreams while a bad habit can destroy
good efforts. It is important for a student to develop good reading habits. This will
positively enhance other study skills. These include developing a penchant for
reading, having positive attitude to learning, attending classes regularly, not having
prejudice about a teacher/lecturer/course, self-discipline and determination to
succeed, keeping good friends and getting rid of all sorts of distractions and avoiding
procrastinations.
Organisational Skills: Important organisation skills include identifying a specific
purpose, planning and prioritising, time and space management. The purpose for which
any activity is meant for is very important. It serves as a guide and also helps to sustain
an interest in it. As a student, you need to identify the purpose for which you are
studying; is it for assignment submissions? Is it for exams? Is it to acquire general
knowledge? These questions would help in making adequate plans. Planning and setting
priorities are important aspects of studying. Like the popular maxim, ‘if you fail to
plan, you plan to fail’, planning is required to avoid failure. A student is expected to
make necessary plans that would have positive effects on his/her knowledge
acquisition at the beginning of every semester. Every activity should be planned and
prioritised. There should be study plan which would involve, identifying all the courses
for the semester, the course content, study materials for the courses, and a time table for
reading. There should also be plans for break or rest; this would help create the necessary
balance for a mental wellbeing. Making plans will also help to avoid multitasking which
 could be tiresome and boring. Effective time and space management is also very
important in studying effectively. Once a plan has been made, this would make
managing time very easy. Each activity has a speculated time, therefore the goal
would be to complete each reading task at a specified time. Also, as a student, there is
the need to identify the best place that would help to achieve the desired knowledge.
Every individual has specific places for studying, however, it is advisable to get a venue
devoid of all forms of distractions.
Reading and Comprehension Skills: These are the most important skills for effective
study. A student can acquire knowledge if he/she reads and understand the content of the
materials read. Methods of reading and understanding texts include getting the necessary
reading materials, adequate concentration, adopting the PQRST method or the SQ3R
strategy. The SQ3R strategy includes surveying, having a general overview of the text;
Question, formulate necessary questions from the titles in the text; Read, intensive
reading to generate answers; Recite/Recall, read out loud or summarise what you have
read; and, Review, critically assess yourself, generate note and answer the questions
generated (Adegbija 1998). Another important method of reading and comprehension is
note-taking. It is important for students to take notes during classes or while reading.
This would make reading and understanding much easier. A student can have two
different note types; class notes and reading notes. Class notes are lecture notes taken by
students in order to make research easier while studying. A student is not expected to
quote the lecturer verbatim while taking the notes, there should be use of paraphrase,
shorthand, abbreviations, symbols and most importantly written in the student’s
expression.
Reading notes are notes taken by students while reading. This can come in the following
ways according to Harboe and Mullen (2007):

1. Margin notes and highlighted texts: These are notes recorded directly on the text.
Margin notes are written on the sides of the texts while points in the texts are highlighted
using pen markers or pencils. Highlighted notes can be in different categories depending
on the importance of the highlighted material. Wavy line can be used under vague words,
question marks against difficult expressions, bold line under keywords and important
concepts, vertical line against important sections and double vertical lines against
sections that are central to the text you are reading. This can only be done on books that
belong to you.
2. Mind maps: This is another note taking measure. It involves a graphic representation of
concepts and ideas that are interwoven in order to identify their connection. This can
come in different methods depending on a student’s inclination and the
interconnectedness of different concepts and keywords. See the example below:
 Sourced from Harboe and Mullen (2007) University of Copenhagen Study Skills

Learners Style of Learning: Learning styles according to Brown (2000) is the way in
which information is perceived and processed by an individual (cited in Gilakjani 2012).
Every individual has specific styles by which s/he can acquire knowledge. It is very
important to understand definite methods by which we approach learning. These methods
involve the use of our sensory organ. There are three different ways identified by
Gilakjani (2012):

1. Auditory Style: Auditory learners learn best by listening to lectures or recorded tapes or
reading out loud to themselves. Although reading out loud is usually regarded as a bad
studying habit which does not aid the in the comprehension of text items, however, it is
important to note that some learners find this method easy. Thus, it is important to learn
the best way possible in order to achieve the best. An auditory learner can have group
discussion with friends or read in places with subtle music at the background.
2. Visual Style: Visual learners learn through visual images and pictures. They can learn
through non-verbal parameters such as cue notes, flash cards, diagrams and charts. They
can easily remember what they have read through a mental picture.
3. Kinaesthetic Style: This is referred to as a ‘hands on’ approach. This type of learner
engages in active discussions, writing ideas on paper for easy analysis, or read through
materials while doing active work.

It should be noted that a learner is not restricted to only the above learning styles. An
individual can be multi-sensory, that is, a learner can be visual and kinaesthetic. Cottrell
(2013) notes that:
the more we use our senses of sight, hearing and touch, and the more we use
fine muscle movements in looking, speaking, writing, typing, drawing, or
moving the body, the more opportunities we give the brain to take in
information using our preferred sense (p. 4).

The most important thing is to identify what works best while studying.

Factors Impeding Effective Study Skills

There are several factors which hinder the acquisition and use of effective study skills which
thus prevents the acquisition of knowledge. Some of these factors as identified by Adegbija
(1999) and Cottrell (2003) cited in Ibrahim (2009) include:
1. Negative attitude to learning: A student must have a positive attitude to the acquisition
of knowledge. A negative attitude will prevent a student from generating the adequate
skills that can help in studying.
2. Time of Study: There should be proper time management which can be achieved through
the creation of a study time table. Time mismanagement can lead to failure.
3. Study Venue: A student needs to find a appropriate venue for studying. The venue
should include a suitable venue (for the student, not necessarily a library) with adequate
lightening and good reading table and chairs. The student must ensure that all reading
materials are available at the venue in order to avoid running around which would lead to
a waste of time. Also, wrong venues can lead to distractions.
4. Lack of Rest and Inadequate Sleep: It is important to have adequate rest or sleep. This
would ensure an effective studying. There is usually no reason to read all through the
night, to ‘pull an all-nighter’ as the students say. Once there is an effective study plan,
there will not be any need to stay awake through the night when you are supposed to be
sleeping.
5. Mental Instability: An effective study would not be achieved when a student is mentally
unstable. The mind should be cleared of all distracting thoughts while studying.

Summary
Studying is an art which needs to be mastered (Adegbija 1998). There are various
study strategies that can aid effective acquisition of knowledge and there are also various
factors that can impede effective study skills. In essence, the success of every learner
is determined by how well and how fast knowledge has been acquired. This can only be
achieved through having adequate and effective study skills which can be used at all
times.

Self-Assessment Questions
1. Explain the difference between reading for leisure and studying.
2. State two reasons why we study.
3. List three study strategies that can aid effective acquisition of knowledge.
4. Explain three factors impeding effective study skills.

Tutor Marked Assignment

1. What are your goals for studying?

2. Identify three major effective study skills given in this chapter.
3. Discover your learning style through answering the following using the keys below:
1 = Strongly Disagree 2=Disagree 3= Undecided 4= Agree 5= Strongly Agree

References
Adegbija, E. (1998). Studying effectively: The art and the strategies. In E. Adegbija (Ed.)
Effective communication in higher education (pp. 1-8). University of Ilorin:
General Studies Division.
Cottrell, S. (2013). The study skills handbook: Fourth Edition. United Kingdom: Palgrave
Macmillan.
Developing Effective Study Strategies (2007). Retrieved from
http://www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy
Gilakjani A. P. (2012). Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic learning styles and their impacts on
English language teaching. Journal of Studies in Education, 2. (1), 104-113.
Harboe T., & Mullen. R. (2007). Study Skills for International Students. University of
Copenhagen: The Teaching and Learning Unit of Social Sciences.

Further Reading

Ibrahim, B. F. (2009). Developing effective study habits and skills. In V. A. Alabi, S. T.

Babatunde & F. A. Adekola (Eds.), The use of English: in higher education (pp.
10-22). University of Ilorin: General Studies Division.
Robinson, F. P. (1970). Effective study. New York: Harper & Row.
Study Skills Guide (2004). University of Newcastle UPON TYNE. Retrieved
from http://www.ncl.ac.uk/disability.service/