Students’ Temporal Distributing of Learning Activities in Psychology Courses: Factors of Influence and Effects on the Metacognitive Learning Outcome

Studies demonstrate that students’ study behavior is frequently dysfunctional, because they tend to cram shortly before examinations. This behavior is antithetical to spaced learning and can impair academic achievement. We investigated the extent that the temporal distribution of learning activities (a) varies as a function of the organization of the course, (b) is subject to individual differences and (c) affects the metacognitive learning outcome. Participants of four lecture-like educational psychology courses (N？=？259) were presented with learning materials stored on the university’s online learning platform. New materials were published weekly and access to these materials was automatically registered. The students completed either a test at the end of the semester (in two end-term-test courses) or fulfilled written assignments throughout the semester (in two multiple-assignment courses). Students in the multiple-assignment courses accessed the materials more continuously than students in the end-term-test courses. Cluster analyses in the end-term-test courses revealed students primarily accessing the materials late in the semester and students accessing the materials continuously throughout the semester. Continuous access was associated with more accurate metacognitive monitoring. The results are discussed in the context of the relation between metacognitive monitoring and the regulation of study behavior