Skip to main content
Log in

College Students' Study Strategies as a Function of Testing: An Investigation into Metacognitive Self-Regulation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Innovative Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

ABSTRACT

We conducted the present study to investigate whether college students adjust their study strategies to meet the cognitive demands of testing, a metacognitive self-regulatory skill. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two testing conditions. In one condition we told participants to study for a test that required deep-level cognitive processing and in the other to study for a test that required surface-level cognitive processing. Results suggested that college students adjust their study strategies so that they are in line with the cognitive processing demands of tests and that performance is mediated by the study strategies that are used.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews, J., Violato, C., Rabb, K., & Hollingsworth, M. (1994). A validity study of Biggs' three-factor model of learning approaches: A confirmatory factor analysis employing a Canadian sample. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 64, 179–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, J. B. (1978). Individual and group differences in study processes. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 48, 266–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, J. B. (1985). The role of metalearning in study processes. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 55, 185–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, J. B. (1987). Study process questionnaire manual. Student approaches to learning and studying (Report No. ISBN-0-86431–002-1). Hawthorn, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research (ERIC Document Reproduction No. ED308 200).

  • Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1981). Attention and self-regulation: A control theory approach to human behavior. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craik, F. I. M., & Lockhart, R. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11, 671–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D'Ydewalle, G., Swerts, A., & De Corte, E. (1983). Study time and test performance as a function of test expectations. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 8, 55–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Entwistle, N., & Entwistle, D. (2003). Preparing for examinations: The interplay of memorizing and understanding, and the development of knowledge objects. Higher Education Research and Development, 22, 19–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldt, R. C., & Ray, M. (1989). Effect of test expectancy on preferred study strategy use and test performance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68, 1157–1158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, K., Ross, M., Tollefson, N., & Green, S. B. (1998). Teachers' choices of test-item formats for classes with diverse achievement levels. The Journal of Educational Research, 91, 222–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foos, P. W. (1992). Test performance as a function of expected form and difficulty. Journal of Experimental Education, 60, 205–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foos, P. W., & Clark, M. C. (1983). Learning from text: Effects of input order and expected test. Human Learning, 2, 177–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, S. B., Salkind, N. J., & Akey, T. M. (2000). Using SPSS for Windows: Analyzing and understanding data (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakstian, A. R. (1971). The effects of type of examination anticipated on test preparation and performance. Journal of Educational Research, 64, 319–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V. K., Rabinsky, L., & Pandey, T. J. (1979). Test mode, test instructions, and retention. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 4, 211–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R., Berghoff, P., & Pheeney, P. (1999). Focusing students: Three approaches for learning through evaluation. Innovative Higher Education, 23, 181–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ley, K., & Young, D. B. (1998). Self-regulation behaviors in underprepared (developmental) and regular admission college students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 23, 42–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lundeberg, M. A., & Fox, P. W. (1991). Do laboratory findings on test expectancy generalize to classroom outcomes? Review of Educational Research, 61, 94–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F., & Saljo, R. (1984). Approaches to learning. In F. Marton, D. J. Hounsell, & N. J. Entwistle (Eds.), The experience of learning (pp. 36–55). Edinburgh, Scotland: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, G. (1934). An experimental study of the old and new types of examination: I. The effects of examination set on memory. Journal of Educational Psychology, 25, 641–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, G. (1936). The effects of recall and recognition on the examination set in classroom situations. Journal of Educational Psychology, 27, 81–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, C. D., Bransford, J. D., & Franks, J. J. (1977). Transfer appropriate processing. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 16, 519–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pintrich, P. R. (2000). The role of goal orientation in self-regulated learning. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 451–502). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sax, G., & Collet, L. S. (1968). An empirical comparison of the effects of recall and multiple choice tests on student achievement. Journal of Educational Measurement, 5, 169–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schunk, D. H. (1989). Social cognitive theory and self-regulated learning. In B. J. Zimmerman & D. Schunk (Eds.), Self-regulated learning and academic achievement: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 83–109). New York, NY: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scouller, K. M., & Prosser, M. (1994). Students' experiences in studying for multiple choice question examinations. Studies in Higher Education, 19, 267–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suber, J. R. (1992). The effect of test expectation, subject matter, and passage length on study tactics and retention. Reading Research and Instruction, 31, 32–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tulving, E. (1983). Elements of episodic memory. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Zile-Tamsen, C., & Livingston, J. A. (1999). The differential impact of motivation on the self regulated strategy use of high- and low-achieving college students. Journal of College Student Development, 40, 54–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winne, P. H., & Hadwin, A. F. (1998). Studying as self-regulated learning. In D. J. Hacker, J. Dunlosky, & A. C. Graesser (Eds.), Metacognition in educational theory and practice (pp. 277–304). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J. (1986). Becoming a self-regulated learner: Which are the key subprocesses? Contemporary Educational Psychology, 11, 307–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J. (1989). A social cognitive view of self-regulated academic learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81, 329–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J. (1998). Developing self-fulfilling cycles of academic regulation: An analysis of exemplary instructional models. In D. H. Schunk & B. J. Zimmerman (Eds.), Self regulated learning: From teaching to self-reflective practice (pp. 1–19). New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J. (2000). Attaining self-regulation: A social cognitive perspective. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 13–39). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J., Bandura, A., & Martinez-Pons, M. (1992). Self-motivation for academic attainment: The role of self-efficacy beliefs and personal goal setting. American Educational Research Journal, 31, 845–862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J., & Martinez-Pons, M. (1988). Construct validation of a strategy model of student self regulated learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 80, 284–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, B. J., & Martinez-Pons, M. (1990). Student differences in self-regulated learning: Relating grade, sex, and giftedness to self-efficacy and strategy use. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82, 51–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Margaret E. Ross is an Associate Professor of Educational Measurement and Statistics at Auburn University. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Kansas. Her research interests include the role assessment plays in influencing student learning strategies, assessment issues and policy, and educational program evaluation. Samuel B. Green is a Professor in the Educational Psychology Department at Arizona State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Measurement and Individual Differences Psychology from the University of Georgia. His research focuses on statistical procedures. Jill Salisbury-Glennon is an Associate Professor teaching Educational Psychology courses at Auburn University. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Pennsylvania. Research interests include college student self-regulation, metacognition, and motivation. Nona Tollefson recently passed away. She was a Professor of Psychology and Research in Education at the University of Kansas and held a Ph.D. from Purdue University. Her research focused on student assessment

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ross, M.E., Green, S.B., Salisbury-Glennon, J.D. et al. College Students' Study Strategies as a Function of Testing: An Investigation into Metacognitive Self-Regulation. Innov High Educ 30, 361–375 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-005-9004-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-005-9004-2

KEY WORDS

Navigation