Change in Preference of Notetaking: The Effects of Notetaking Format on Memory Retention

Abstract:

As technology rapidly advances and the practicality of having a mobile device grows, students are migrating away from the traditional handwritten notetaking style. Although the brain does not change how it encodes and stores information, the initial process of learning that information is by typing notes instead of handwriting notes. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the effect of notetaking methods, typing and handwriting notes on memory retention. It is hypothesized that handwriting notes will have a more positive effect on memory performance when compared to typing notes. The data yielded nonsignificant results for preferred notetaking method and gender on the memory quiz score. Results imply there may be other influences on overall academic achievement other than how an individual takes notes.