What Do Students Remember From Introductory Psychology?

Authors

Scott W. VanderStoep, Hope CollegeFollow
Angela Fagerlin
Jennifer Feenstra

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2000

Publication Source

Teaching of Psychology

Volume Number

27

Issue Number

2

First Page

89

Last Page

92

Publisher

Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

ISSN

0098-6283

Abstract

In 2 studies, students in introductoryPsychology courses completed a free-recall task designed to measure their memory for the course. In Study 1, the most frequently recalled items were vivid instructional tools, such as dramatic videos and novel in-class demonstrations. The ratings of these responses measured how relevant they were to a course concept. Only 15% of responses were highly relevant to course material. Students' relevance of responses correlated positively with final grade and test-score percentage. Study 2 found that the concepts students remembered most frequently had vivid instructional techniques accompanying them.

Recommended Citation

Published in: Teaching of Psychology, Volume 27, Issue 2, Spring April 1, 2000, pages 89-92. Copyright © 2000 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, N.J.. The final published version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15328023TOP2702_02