This study sought to determine the effectiveness of an integrated study strategy system that used self-assigned student writing as a means of learning psychology content. Sixty-five college freshmen from four sections of a reading/study strategy course were trained over a 3-week period to use either a question-answer recitation format or PORPE (Predict, Organize, Rehearse, Practice, and Evaluate). All subjects took an initial and delayed multiple choice test and an essay exam which were used as the dependent measures. The essays were scored for content, organization, and cohesion. The results indicated that the students trained in PORPE scored significantly better than the Question-Answer students on both the recall and recognition measures. In addition, the PORPE essay answers were significantly more organized and cohesive than the essays of the students trained in answering questions. It was concluded that PORPE can be a potent, durable, and efficient independent study strategy for college students in their efforts to learn content area concepts.
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