The Effects of Guided Notes on Pre-lecture Quiz Scores in Introductory Psychology

Guided notes covering lectures have been shown to improve note quality and increase scores on quizzes covering lecture material. We sought to determine whether guided notes would also be beneficial in helping students prepare for quizzes covering assigned readings. We evaluated the efficacy of guided notes for reading assignments on undergraduates’ scores on quizzes covering reading material during one semester of an Introductory Psychology course. Guided notes produced statistically significant improvements in quiz scores and note accuracy. Together with previous literature, our results suggest that guided notes may be an effective component of college courses.