Richard E. Mayer is Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. He served as President of Division 15 (Educational Psychology) of the American Psychological Association and Vice President of the American Educational Research Association for Division C (Learning and Instruction).

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• INTRODUCTION: Academic Success Depends on Motive, Opportunity, and Means (MOM) PART 1: MOTIVE TO LEARNSuccessful Habit #1: Find Personal Value in What You Are LearningSuccessful Habit #2: Set Your Goal to Mastering the Material Successful Habit #3: Believe that You Can Learn if You Try Hard Enough Successful Habit #4: Feel Challenged Rather than ThreatenedPART 2: OPPORTUNITY TO LEARNSuccessful Habit #5: Give Yourself Time to LearnSuccessful Habit #6: Space Out Your Study Time Across Several SessionsSuccessful Habit #7: Alternate Among a Few Different Things in Each SessionSuccessful Habit #8: Study in a Distraction-Free ZoneSuccessful Habit #9: Clear Your Mind of WorriesSuccessful Habit #10: Keep Your Mind FocusedPART 3: MEANS TO LEARNSuccessful Habit #11: Reread Material that Needs ClarificationSuccessful Habit #12: Highlight Main Ideas as a First StepSuccessful Habit #13: Use Flashcards for Limited SituationsSuccessful Habit #14: Summarize in Your Own WordsSuccessful Habit #15: Create Knowledge MapsSuccessful Habit #16: Make DrawingsSuccessful Habit #17: Give Yourself Practice TestsSuccessful Habit #18: Explain the Material to YourselfSuccessful Habit #19: Try Explaining Material to OthersSuccessful Habit #20: Engage in Hands-On ActivitiesCONCLUSION: 20 Habits for Successful Studying