In cognitive psychology, when students have read a section of a text and do not understand it, what is the most effective strategy they should use to improve comprehension?

• A. Rely solely on external summaries without revisiting the original text
• B. Memorize the text word-for-word without attempting to understand it
• C. Reread the section and try to actively summarize the main points in their own words
• D. Skip the section and move on to the next part of the text

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that effective comprehension strategies involve active engagement with the material rather than passive reading or skipping content.
2. Step 2: Recognize that rereading the section allows the student to process the information more deeply and clarify any confusing parts.
3. Step 3: Summarizing the main points in their own words encourages active processing, which helps consolidate understanding and memory retention.
4. Step 4: Avoid relying solely on external summaries or memorization without comprehension, as these methods do not promote meaningful learning.
5. Step 5: Therefore, the most effective strategy is to reread the section and actively summarize the main ideas, which enhances comprehension and learning.