elaborative interrogation

Description:

Elaborative interrogation involves asking "why" or "how" questions about the material being studied. This encourages deeper processing and helps students connect new information to prior knowledge. 

Best Use: 

Suitable for understanding cause-and-effect relationships in subjects like Science, Social Studies, or English. 

Best Practice: 

Regularly ask yourself "Why does this make sense?" or "How does this work?" while studying. 

Examples:

• While studying, ask yourself questions like "Why does this formula work?" or "How does this historical event relate to what I already know?"

• When reading about a scientific concept, ask, "What would happen if this variable were changed?"

Step by Step Guide to elaborative Interrogation:

1. Identify the Key Fact or Concept  

What to Do: Start with a fact, concept, or piece of information that you need to understand or memorize. This could be something from your textbook, lecture notes, or any educational resource. 

Example: 

Science: If you're learning about the structure of DNA, start with the key fact that DNA is made up of nucleotides.  

Literature: Key concept: The theme of revenge in Hamlet.

Mathematics: Key fact: The formula for the area of a triangle.

History: Key concept: The causes of the American Civil War.

2. Ask “Why?” or “How?” Questions 

What to Do: Ask yourself “Why?” or “How?” about the fact or concept. These questions should probe the underlying reasons or mechanisms behind the information. 

Example: 

Science: Ask, "Why is DNA structured as a double helix?" or "How do nucleotides pair together in DNA?" 

Literature: Why does Hamlet seek revenge? How does the theme of revenge drive the plot?

Mathematics: Why is the area of a triangle calculated as 1/2 * base * height? How does this formula apply to different types of triangles?

History: Why did the issue of slavery lead to the Civil War? How did economic and social factors contribute to the conflict?

3. Search for Explanations 

What to Do: Seek out explanations or answers to your questions. Use your existing knowledge, class notes, textbooks, or other reliable resources to find the reasoning behind the fact or concept. 

Example:  

Science: You might find that DNA's double helix structure provides stability and allows for efficient replication.

Literature: Look into how Hamlet’s father’s ghost and his relationship with Claudius fuel his desire for revenge.

Mathematics: Explore the geometric derivation of the triangle area formula and how it relates to other shapes.

History: Research the political, economic, and social explanations for the Civil War, including the role of abolitionism, state rights, and sectionalism.

4. Generate Your Own Answers 

What to Do: Once you have gathered information, try to explain the concept in your own words. This step is crucial for deepening your understanding and solidifying the information in your memory. 

Example:  

Science: You might say, "DNA is structured as a double helix because the shape helps protect the genetic code and allows the strands to separate easily during replication." 

Literature: Hamlet's revenge is driven by a combination of duty to his father, personal anger, and the corrupt nature of the Danish court.

Mathematics: The triangle area formula works because it represents half of a rectangle’s area when the triangle is inscribed within it.

History: The Civil War was caused by a combination of slavery, economic differences between the North and South, and disputes over state sovereignty.

5. Repeat the Process 

What to Do: Continue asking “Why?” or “How?” questions about other aspects of the fact or concept. Repeat this process for additional pieces of information to build a more comprehensive understanding. 

Example:  

Science: After understanding why DNA is a double helix, you might ask, "How do hydrogen bonds contribute to the stability of the DNA structure?" 

Literature: After understanding revenge, ask about the role of madness in Hamlet and repeat the steps.

Mathematics: After mastering the area of triangles, ask similar questions about the area of a circle.

History: After understanding the causes, ask why the South decided to secede or how the war strategies of the North and South differed.

6. Make Connections 

What to Do: Try to connect the concept you're exploring to other related ideas or knowledge you already have. This helps to integrate the new information into your broader understanding of the subject. 

Example:  

Science: Connect the role of hydrogen bonds in DNA to their role in the properties of water, highlighting the importance of hydrogen bonds in biology. 

Literature: Connect the theme of revenge in Hamlet to other literary works, like The Count of Monte Cristo or Macbeth.

Mathematics: Relate the formula for the area of a triangle to the Pythagorean theorem and how both concepts interrelate.

History: Connect the causes of the American Civil War to other historical conflicts over similar issues, like the French Revolution or the English Civil War.

7. Review and Reflect 

What to Do: Periodically review the questions and answers you've generated. Reflect on how your understanding has deepened and how you might explain the concept to someone else. 

Example:  

Science: Review your understanding of DNA's structure and think about how you would teach it to a peer who is struggling with the concept.

Literature: Reflect on how the theme of revenge impacts Hamlet’s character development and the play’s outcome.

Mathematics: Review how understanding the area of a triangle helps in solving more complex geometric problems.

History: Reflect on how understanding the causes of the Civil War helps in understanding modern issues related to civil rights and federal versus state power.

8. Apply to Different Subjects 

What to Do: Use elaborative interrogation in various subjects, particularly in areas that require deep understanding rather than rote memorization. This technique is effective in subjects like science, history, and mathematics. 

Example: 

Literature: Use elaborative interrogation to explore themes in other books or plays, such as the role of fate in Romeo and Juliet.

Mathematics: Apply the questioning technique to algebraic formulas or calculus concepts.

History: Apply this method to understanding other historical events, like the causes of World War I or the French Revolution.

Tips for Success:

Be Persistent:  Keep asking questions until you fully understand the concept. It’s okay if it takes time to find or generate satisfying answers. 

Use in Group Study: Discuss your questions and answers with classmates to deepen everyone’s understanding through shared knowledge. 

Resources:

Learn How to Study Using... Elaboration

https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/7/7-1

An overview of elaborative interrogation, including why it works and how to implement it.