The cognitive functions of underlining as a study technique

Abstract To investigate the cognitive functions of underlining, college students studied and reviewed a history chapter under one of three conditions: underlining during study and reviewing the underlined text, underlining when studying but reviewing clean text, and studying and reviewing without underlining. Scores on an exam measuring recognition of facts and inferences indicated that subjects who underlined when studying and then reviewed their underlined chapter scored significantly lower on inferential recall than the other two groups. Results indicated that underlining apparently does not serve an encoding or review function, and may be counterproductive for inferential recall. Results are discussed in terms of students’ self‐reported use of underlining.

[1]  Richard E. Mayer,et al.  The Teaching of Learning Strategies. , 1983 .

[2]  Henry F. Arnold.  The comparative effectiveness of certain study techniques in the field of history. , 1942 .

[3]  R. W. Kulhavy,et al.  The Effects of Notetaking and Test Expectancy on the Learning of Text Material. , 1975 .

[4]  R. Fowler,et al.  Effectiveness of highlighting for retention of text material. , 1974 .

[5]  Merlin C. Wittrock,et al.  9 – READING COMPREHENSION , 1981 .

[6]  Gerald J. August,et al.  Generative underlining strategies in prose recall. , 1975 .

[7]  Peter W. Hoon.  Efficacy of Three Common Study Methods , 1974 .

[8]  Sherrie L. Nist,et al.  The Role of Underlining and Annotating in Remembering Textual Information. , 1987 .

[9]  Suzanne E. Wade,et al.  Effect of Self-Selected Study Methods on Learning. , 1989 .

[10]  L. L. Johnson,et al.  Effects of Underlining Textbook Sentences on Passage and Sentence Retention. , 1988 .

[11]  W. Wallace.  REVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL, EMPIRICAL, AND THEORETICAL STATUS OF THE VON RESTORFF PHENOMENON. , 1965, Psychological bulletin.

[12]  Valjean M. Cashen,et al.  Role of the Isolation Effect in a Formal Educational Setting. , 1970 .

[13]  Joseph R. Jenkins,et al.  Underlining versus repetitive reading. , 1972 .

[14]  Kenneth A. Kiewra.  Investigating Notetaking and Review: A Depth of Processing Alternative , 1985 .

[15]  Learning tactics and strategies , 1986 .

[16]  James Hartley,et al.  Underlining Can Make a Difference—Sometimes , 1980 .

[17]  M. Wittrock.  Learning as a Generative Process , 1974 .

[18]  M. Pressley,et al.  Memory strategy instruction is made of this: Metamemory and durable strategy use. , 1984 .

[19]  William B. Todd,et al.  Influence of response mode, sex, reading ability, and level of difficulty on four measures of recall of meaningful written material. , 1971 .

[20]  Peter R. Denner,et al.  Depressive effects of underlining and adjunct questions on children's recall of text , 1979 .