How you can use Your Personality Type to Build Effective Study Habits: Are Your Studying Strategies Right for you?
Writer: Sabrina Khan
Editor: Angelina Polygenis
Picture this: you are an exhausted high school student staring at your laptop, your science notes melted around you. You ask others for help, hoping to find a solution to your problem, but are met with the response, “Find a study strategy that works for you.” This is the common advice teens receive, and while cliche, it is the truth: discovering a personalized strategy that works for you will maximize your productivity. But how can you find the right strategy, you may ask?
You may have come across the acronym MBTI, which stands for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. It was created by Katharine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Brigs during World War II, inspired by the theories of Carl Jung. Although its original purpose was to facilitate and improve relationships among nurses, today it can be used for many things: counseling, leadership training, work-team development, career coaching – and to our advantage – studying strategies!
The first step of this journey is to discover your MBTI type. This test assesses your tendencies in 4 dimensions: energy, perceiving, judging, and orientation. Energy refers to introversion (I) or extroversion (E). Perceiving refers to the way you intake information, sensing (S) or intuition (N). Judging refers to decision-making, thinking (T) or feeling (F). Lastly, orientation refers to your focus or attention, judging (J) or perceiving (P) (Hill, 2022). These combinations of these 4 classifications lead to 16 personality types. They can help guide and teach you something about your learning styles.
Introverts (I)
While there is a wide spectrum of introverts, they are often thoughtful and more comfortable in small groups. They find comfort in focusing on their inner ideas rather than external discussions. Introverts tend to think more before speaking (Ellis, 2022). Consequently, introverted students benefit from quiet, meaningful reflection. To maximize studying proficiency, introverts should focus on independent study. Group study sessions may be counterproductive and tiring for an introverted student. Additionally, they typically study best in quiet environments, like a library, home, or office (MBTI). Furthermore, because introverts learn better through internal reflection, mind maps can be extremely beneficial because they allow for the connection of concepts and material (UTEP Connect). Similarly, brainstorming and theoretical exploration, such as asking deeper questions, allows for introverts to think out problems more analytically (OLLU, 2021).
Extroverts (E)
Extroverts often gain energy from social interaction. They focus on other people and enjoy socialization and participating in conversations. While studying, extroverts may benefit from thinking out loud. Generally, it is easier for extroverts to organize thoughts and understand concepts by speaking them. In addition to thinking out loud, extroverted students benefit from actively conversing a topic with a partner or group. For example, before a test, you should discuss the topics that will be covered with a friend. Having conversations about the topic will allow for deeper engagement and better retention of the information. Furthermore, teaching others can be an effective and enjoyable approach for extroverts to study. It forces students to actively recall concepts, ensuring their deeper understanding of material before a test. Lastly, extroverts should study in public spaces, like a park or café. They thrive in social areas, even if it does not include conversations (Lee, 2014).
Sensing (S)
Sensing types are very aware of details of the outer world, and rely on their senses to absorb knowledge. They are very practical and focus on the bigger picture, making decisions based on experiences and facts. They prefer to solve problems using rational methods that rely on factual evidence (Armstead, 2023). Sensing types benefit from diagrams and outlines because they have a straightforward structure. To study, they should focus on using visual diagrams, outlines, and charts (Lee, 2014). Next, the use of flashcards is an effective approach for sensing types because they are concise. In addition, hands-on activities are extremely useful for sensing types. Using games, dances, or codes to remember or understand concepts are a great way to study. The Cornell Note Taking Method can also be beneficial because it helps demonstrate the big picture. Another strategy could be summarizing material; identify main ideas first, and then pinpoint supporting details (MBTI).
Intuitive (N)
On the other hand, intuitive learners seek patterns and relationships. They often see the big picture of things, sometimes overlooking details. Concrete facts are less interesting, and instead, they enjoy theoretical concepts. Intuitive learners benefit from studying in intervals with breaks because they work with bursts of energy. This is built from the Pomodoro Technique, created to aid in time management. An example of this is to set 45 minutes to work with 15-minute breaks. Additionally, they should use their creativity to help them retain information. For example, they could create stories or mnemonics to link terms.
Thinking (T)
Individuals with the thinking type tend to be very analytical, objective, and logical. They love investigating deeper theories and ideas (Johnson, 2023). The first strategy for the thinking type is to lead with logical reasoning. They may find abstract or theoretical concepts challenging, so it is best to pinpoint logical reasoning of the material. Additionally, it is important for thinkers to ask questions respectfully, because their analytical thinking can be interpreted as negative. Rather than critiquing ideas, ask, “what can I learn from this?”
Feeling (F)
The feeling type is very people-oriented, with a strong focus on their emotions and feelings. They often make decisions based on feelings rather than logic (Fiveable). When studying, the feeling type would benefit from finding ways to make the material more personally important. Whether this is a personal experience or a memory, relating to the material can bring it to a new dimension and make it more interesting. The environment is also very important – the feeling type needs to be surrounded in a positive environment without emotional distractions.
Judging (J)
Next, the judging type follows structure. They are planners, with every task organized and structured in a high efficient manner. To begin, the judging type works best in a structured setting. It is important to establish a firm routine, including location. It is best to stick to one location, and ensure your environment is clean. While they prefer set routines, but it is also important to try new strategies. Furthermore, the judging type often struggles to see an argument from a different perspective. By second-look reading to identify counter-arguments, the judging type can strengthen their arguments. Furthermore, making detailed to-do lists and following a weekly schedule is beneficial (ATI).
Perceiving (P)
Last, In contrast to the judging type, percievers tend to be spontaneous, flexible, and adaptable. They have a “go with the flow” mindset. Generally, they dislike the structure of school and other academic routines; however, there are many strategies for percievers to study effectively (Lee, 2014)! First, percievers should create sub-deadlines when given an assignment. This ensures they stay on track. They often see deadlines as flexible, which does not work well. Additionally, they have a tendency to procrastinate. They should focus on targeting procrastination by using anti-procrastination apps and calendars. In addition, perceivers should switch up routines to prevent boredom. Studying in different environments can keep them engaged. This can also mean changing note-taking methods. Thus, perceivers benefit from change.
To conclude, your personality type can be a great way to discover what it means for you to study smarter, not harder. I hope you learned something about what studying methods are best for you!
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/balance/introvert-personality-overview