Studying Strategy Effects on Memory, Attitudes, and Intentions

In this experiment, 175 participants generated node-link maps or summaries using multiple, massed, or ad lib schedules while reading text on stress-related information. They rated personal relevance immediately following studying and completed tests on the information and measures of attitudes and intentions 48 hours later. Low-verbal-ability participants who mapped and high-verbal-ability participants who summarized performed best on the tests and reported higher personal relevance. Multiple regression analyses indicated that personal relevance predicted test performance for those who mapped and was consistent in predicting both intentions to learn about and manage stress for all participants.