Effective use of Elaborative Interrogation to improve academic performance

Abstract

[EN]Study techniques most commonly used by students are usually the least effective for learning. Therefore, a sample of undergraduate students was trained in the use of Elaborative Interrogation (EI), a more powerful strategy. However, there are no clear guidelines on how to implement this technique, and there are contrasting results on its effectiveness. The present study aimed at analysing the effectiveness of EI in undergraduate students' performance. A pre-test post-test design was used with 3 within-participants conditions: control, self-generated EI and externally-generated EI. The effects that training and type and quality of EI implementation had on students' comprehension (at textbase and situation model levels) were investigated. Results suggest that the EI technique may be useful to improve undergraduates’ learning, but only in very specific situations. Otherwise, it may even hinder performance compared to traditional study techniques. Some insights are offered to better understand how the EI strategy works.