There are a great many techniques which have been proven to increase
the rate at which someone can learn, master, and retain information.

Some of these techniques are proven with excellent research.  Some are
bordering on pseudo-science.  Some are outright frauds.

I would like to discover which of these techniques are proven with
scientific research.

For example, the principle of Primacy and Recency is a well documented
psychological phenomenon whereby the first and last items in any list
tend to be the best remembered.

The idea of chunking information down into smaller blocks of
information is a technique that exploits this principle for
accelerated learning.

What other reliable and proven techniques do we have which are proven
with hard science?

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 22 Aug 2004 13:47 PDT

Nukdae --

The question seems to be related to learning techniques for adults. 
However, substantial research shows that learning is often
age-related.  Languages are learned fastest by young people (under age
16), as an example.  Do you want age-related research -- or only
techniques for adults?

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

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Clarification of Question by nukdae-ga on 07 Sep 2004 02:30 PDT

Omnivorous,

Interesting question.

I'm not sure if techniques are necessarily age-related.  Yes, younger
people have a proven inate ability to learn faster, but does that mean
that techniques that will accelerate learning in adults not also
accelerate learning for children?

It's a question that may be incredibly relevant or not relevant at
all.  The underlying presupposition (that accelerated learning
techniques are dependent on age) would have to be proven first, and I
imagine that's another question.

Unless there is already an answer to this ...

Nukdae

My guess is the best for one person may be near worthless for another.
Ie I remember new information long term by analyzing it in detail in
the light of things I already know, otherwise I typically forget in
seconds.   Neil

Neil, that is because, like me, you are an N on the mbti(based on your
insightful and clear self analysis). Different people remember in
different ways, but there aren't very many variations. BTW you are in
the minority <20%.

Hello Nukdae-ga,

I had been working on your question for many days, and composed most
of the answer, but due to a prolonged connection breakdown, couldn?t
make it before question?s expiration time. Perhaps you agree with me
that it would be in the benefit of both of us that I could post the
answer, so you can get the information you want, and I can get
rewarded for the work already done. If you agree, I invite you to post
your question again ?for guillermo-ga? and I?ll be glad to answer it
right away. If you do so, please reduce the original price to $199.50,
so the non-refundable $0.50 of question listing fee fall in my
account. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Guillermo

Nukdae --

There's some interesting research on learning and age.  It appears
that for some things, such as absorbing grammar and language, there
are periods of time when the brain is open to picking them up
innately.  A scientist by the name of Eric Lenneberg has quantified
the effect by studying language, noting that the ability to learn
languages changes at about age 16.  Which is not to say that older
people can't learn a new language but that they have to learn it
differently.

Try this Google search, as the first page gives some interesting results:
Lenneberg + language + learning

Finally, sometime in the 16-25 age range we adjust to the accent of
those speaking around us.  Your accent is one of those things that
"hard wires" during that age range.  Author Matt Ridley cites one of
the most dramatic examples in Walter and Henry Kissinger, who were
born a year apart and came to the U.S. in the late teens.  Walter
speaks with a distinctly American accent, while his brother (the
ex-Secretary of State) has a distinctly German accent.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Hello Nukdae-ga,

I?ve seen the price of this question changed and interpreted it as
you?re agreeing with my proposal. I thank you for that, but it seems I
didn?t explain it well in my last post. An answer can?t be posted in
this thread, because it is expired. The only way for me to post an
actual answer requires that you post the question again, the same way
you did the first time. I invite you to price this new question
$199.50, so you can recover from the question price the fifty cents
fee for question listing you?ll be charged again. Then, if I took it
right and you do want me to post the answer to your original question,
please post it again, as if it was an entirely new question,
specifying ?for guillermo-ga? in its subject. Thank you.

Best regards,

Guillermo