Have you ever studied really hard for a test, but when you sit down to take it, your mind just blanks out and you notice that you’re not as confident as you were while studying? That’s happened to me more than once. I’d study in my dorm, feel super confident, and then get to the classroom and suddenly forget everything. I used to think it was just nerves or stress, but it turns out there’s actually a reason this happens, and it’s called the encoding specificity principle. It may sound scary at first but it’s actually pretty cool once you understand it.
What is Encoding Specificity Principle?
Basically, this idea means that we remember things better when we’re in the same situation as when we first learned it. So if you studied something while sitting on your bed listening to music, you’re more likely to remember it later if you’re in the same spot, with the same music playing. Your brain kind of tags the information with what’s around you when you learn it.
The term comes from two researchers, Tulving and Thomson, who found in 1973 that people could remember more if they were given the same cues (or hints) they had when they first studied something.
Scuba Divers Helped Prove It
One of the most famous experiments about this idea involved scuba divers. In 1975, two researchers named Godden and Baddeley had some people learn a list of words either on land or underwater (while diving). Then they tested the divers’ memory in both places. The people who studied underwater remembered more words when they were tested underwater again. The same thing happened with people who studied on land. So, what does that mean? It means that being in the same place when you study and take the test can actually help you remember better.
Do I Have to Take My Test in My Bedroom Now?
This wouldn’t be exactly like that, I’m not saying your professor will let you take your math test on your bed with music playing. But it does help to understand that where and how you study matters. It’s not just about how many hours you study it’s about what is going on in your surroundings as well.
Even small things like: The sounds in the room, your mood whether you had coffee or not, if you’re listening to music or not and other stuff like that.
How to use Encoding Specificity Principle
1st. Study in a Quiet, Test-Like Environment.I used to study with music and or with a tv on in the background, but now I try to study in a quiet place just like the classroom where I’ll be taking the test, or if not something that would be very similar to how it’s going to be when testing like the lounge of my dorm. That way, my brain doesn’t rely on music or other stuff to remember the information, and I’m more prepared
2nd. Imagine Your Study Spot During the Test
This one sounds weird, but it works. A psychologist named Smith (1979) found that even if you can’t be in the same place when you take the test, just imagining the place where you studied can help you remember things. So if you studied at your desk, close your eyes during the test and picture yourself there.
3rd. Even though studying in the same place can help with memory, some research shows that studying in different places sometimes makes your memory stronger overall. A study by Smith and Rothkopf (1984) said that learning things in more than one place helps your brain remember the info in lots of different situations⁴.
So maybe try both, study in different places when you’re first learning, but before the test, review in a quiet place like where you’ll be taking it.
4th. Practice Like It’s the Real Test
If your test is going to be in a quiet room with no notes, try to practice the same way. Self-testing is actually one of the best ways to study, and if you do it in a way that feels like the real test, your brain will be more ready to bring the info back when it counts.
So, what’s the whole point of all of this? Memory isn’t just about what you study but it’s also about the situation you’re in while you study and while you’re trying to remember it. The encoding specificity principle shows that even things like your environment, your mood, or the sounds around you can make a difference.
Conclusion
If you want to do better on tests, Quizes, or schoolwork try to study in ways that match the test environment. Practice recalling information without distractions, imagining your study space during the exam, and giving your brain the clues it needs to find the right answers. By already having the knowledge, now give yourself the best chance to remember it when it matters most.
References
Tulving, E., & Thomson, D. M. (1973). Encoding specificity and retrieval processes in episodic memory. Psychological Review, 80(5), 352–373.
Godden, D. R., & Baddeley, A. D. (1975). Context-dependent memory in two natural environments: On land and underwater. British Journal of Psychology, 66(3), 325–331.
Smith, S. M. (1979). Remembering in and out of context. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 5(5), 460–471.
Smith, S. M., & Rothkopf, E. Z. (1984). Contextual enrichment and distribution of practice in the classroom. Cognition and Instruction, 1(3), 341–358.
Tulving, E., & Pearlstone, Z. (1966). Availability versus accessibility of information in memory for words. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 5(4), 381–391.
Fernandez, A., & Glenberg, A. M. (1985). Changing environmental context does not reliably affect memory. Memory & Cognition, 13(4), 333–345.