Pegword Method: How To Use It, And Does It Really Work?

The pegword method is a mnemonic technique that relies on you knowing a 10-item rhyme to associate 10 numbers with 10 “peg” objects. Whenever ... PegwordMethod:HowToUseIt,AndDoesItReallyWork? byWilliamWadsworth|May14,2019 byWilliamWadsworthTheCambridge-educatedmemorypsychologist&studycoachonamissiontohelpYOUaceyourexams.Helpinghalfamillionstudentsin175+countrieseveryyeartostudysmarter,notharder.Superchargeyourstudiestodaywithourtime-saving,grade-boosting“genius”studytipssheet. Thepegwordmethodisausefulmnemonictechniqueforlearningalistofitemsinorder,particularlywhenthoseitemsareconcrete,visualobjectsratherthanabstractconcepts. AsfeaturedontheExamStudyExpertpodcast,Episode11onmnemonictechniquestostudyforexamswithDrAdamPutnam. Here’showthetechniqueworks,andhowtouseit. Whatisthepegwordmethod? Thepegwordmethodisamnemonictechniquethatreliesonyouknowinga10-itemrhymetoassociate10numberswith10“peg”objects. Wheneveryouwanttorememberalistofitemsofyourchoice,youneedtofindavisualimagetoassociateeachitemwiththecorresponding“peg”object. Thenwheneveryouwanttorememberthelist,runthroughtherhyme,recallthe“peg”objectsandthevisualimagesyou’ve“hung”onyourpegs. Thisisbestillustratedwithanexample: Howtousethepegwordmethod Thefirststepistolearntherhymetorememberthepegwordslist.Thesetenobjectsformthe“pegs”youcanlater“hang”whateveryouwanttorememberon: ThePegwordMethod:youfirstneedtolearnthepegwordslist Then,wheneveryouneedlearnalistofitems,“peg”eachitemtotherhymeyoujustlearned,bycreatingavisualimagethatcombinesthepegobjectwithwhateverobjectyou’retryingtoremember. Forexample,ifyouweretryingtorememberashoppinglist(apples,milk,eggs),youmightthinkupthefollowingimages: AnapplebeingshotoutofagunandsplatteringonthewallAcartonofmilkheldinashoeAloadofeggsgrowinglikefruitonatree Here’swhateachimagemightlooklikeinyourmind: PegwordMethodinaction Andsoon,foralltheitemsonyourlist,uptoten. Handy! Doesthemethodwork? Thereisevidencethatthepegwordmnemoniccaneffectivelyenhancerecallforsomematerials,especiallyconcretenouns. Thereareanumberofdrawbacks,though: Tryingtoremembertoomanypegwordlistsatoncemaycauseyoutogetconfusedbetweenthelists.(Psychologistscallthis“interference“).Thistechniqueisn’tmuchgoodforabstractconcepts,ornounsthatarenotveryvisuallydistinct.Itmightbehardtolearnalistofpharmaceuticaldrugsormountainsusingthismethod,becauseyourvisualimageforeachitemonthelistwillbequitesimilar.It’sonlyreallygoodforuptotenitems.Theevidenceofthebenefitsoverthelong-term(e.g.severalmonths,ormore)ismixed.You’llalmostcertainlywanttocombinethistechniquewithretrievalpractice,asAdamPutnamdiscussedonthepodcast. Havefunwiththepegwordmethod,andgoodluck! Getmorefromthescienceoflearningwithmyfreecheatsheetforstudentsandeducators: Highergrades,lesssweatDownloadmyfree“studytips”cheatsheet:allmy#1must-knowstrategiestosuperchargeyourlearningtoday.AreYouA…?ParentStudentEducatorYes!SendmethesecretsYourprivacyprotected.Nospam.Unsubscribeanytime. AboutLatestPostsFollowme:WilliamWadsworthFounderandDirectorofLearningScienceatExamStudyExpertWilliamWadsworthisaCambridgeUniversityeducatedpsychologistandlearningscienceresearcher.Hegottop0.01%examresultsintheUKasastudentover10yearsago,andeversincehasbeenobsessedwithhelpingsubsequentgenerationsofstudentsacetheirexams,throughthescienceofstudyingsmarter,notharder.Halfamillionstudentsin150+countriesfollowhisadvicethroughthissiteandtheExamStudyExpertpodcast,andhe’sthebest-sellingauthorofthe“ingenious”guidetotest-takingstrategy,OutsmartYourExams.TogetintouchwithWilliam,includingtofindoutmoreabouthistransformational1:1coachingsessions,pleaseclickhere.Followme:LatestpostsbyWilliamWadsworth(seeall) 28GENIUSStudyHacksToSaveYouTime(&ScoreTopGradesInExams)-30Jul2021 HowToStudyULTRA-EffectivelyForExams:37ProvenStrategiesFor2022-23Jul2021 ULTIMATEGUIDEToThePomodoroStudyMethod:9StepsToMasterYourTime-15Jul2021 Trackbacks/Pingbacks Pegword:Amemorytechnique-Untamedmusing-[…]associationsbetweenitemstoberememberedandtheitemsthatarealreadyassociatedwithnumbers.Hereisalink… SubmitaCommentCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Comment*Name Email Website Δ ThissiteusesAkismettoreducespam.Learnhowyourcommentdataisprocessed. NEWFORJAN2022:OutsmartYourStudiesbook Studysmarter,learnfasterandaceyourexamswithOutsmartYourStudies:orderyourcopynow! ReadMyTest-TakingTechniqueBookForMoreMarksInExamsTopPicks:BestStudyGuidesHowToStudyEffectively:UltimateGuide[READERFAVOURITE] 51ProvenStudyTips ExamMemorizationSecrets InspirationalExamQuotes FindingThePerfectStudyRoutine MotivationToStudy:29Strategies PomodoroMethod:9-StepGuide BestBooksAboutStudying EasiestToHardestAPClasses