Use the 'Production Effect' to Study More Effectively

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I'm going to say something that sounds contradictory at first, though I swear it does make sense eventually: You should always study in silence, but a little noise can be helpful for remembering things. Specifically, your noise can be helpful—that is, when you’re speaking out loud. If you practice the “production effect,” it can help you remember what you’re studying. Here’s how to use it the next time you’re trying to remember something challenging.

What is the production effect?

The production effect refers to what happens when you use vocalizing as a mnemonic to improve your memory of a new concept. Basically, your memory favors words you read aloud more than the ones you read silently. When you speak out loud, you’re producing something with your material, which is how this gets its name. Research has also shown that the more distinct things you produce, the better you’ll remember whatever you’re saying—so being loud or even singing the new information is more helpful than just reading it out loud.

How to capitalize on the production effect when studying

You have a few options when it comes to trying this out for yourself during a study session. At the most basic level, you can read your notes or textbook out loud to yourself, but in line with the research supporting the value of distinctiveness, I’d recommend taking it further.

You can always rely on the Feynman technique, where you teach someone else the material you’re studying, and make sure you’re doing it out loud. I've recommended using ChatGPT to work through the Feyman method before, but if you're trying to tap into the production effect, that's not going to cut it this time. You can practice a few times with AI if you need to or if no one else is around to study with, but you should be going over it at least once out loud with someone else.

Try incorporating the production effect into your flashcard use, too. When using the Leitner system, for instance, read your flashcards out loud to yourself. This approach is solid because it doesn't rely on anyone else participating. You don't need anyone else around to capitalize on the value of the production effect and, in fact, it's usually better to study on your own because you avoid distractions or being held back by someone else's schedule or lack of enthusiasm.

I’ve already recommended making a “personal podcast” for your studies, too, and that’s helpful here not only because it gives you something to listen to over and over until you grasp it, but because you have to speak the material the first time around, lending the whole exercise to the production effect. This is your two-for-one option and, provided you have the patience to script and read your materials, record them, and listen back to them repeatedly, it's likely your best one.

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