Elaborative Interrogation
Asking why facts are true deepens understanding and memory.
Evidence: well established. We label every concept honestly, and say so when it's a teaching model. How we rate evidence.
Shrink Definition
Elaborative interrogation is a study technique of asking why a fact is true and answering it, connecting new information to what you already know. Generating explanations for facts makes them more meaningful and easier to remember. It works best when you have some background knowledge to link to. Asking why turns memorizing into understanding.
Plain language
Studying by asking why a fact is true and answering it.
Shrink Insight
A fact you can explain is a fact you can keep.
Why it matters
It turns rote facts into connected understanding that lasts. Asking why links new material to what you already know.
Common misunderstanding
People think memorizing facts is enough to learn them. Explaining why they're true makes them far more memorable.
Shrink Perspective
Understanding is memory with reasons attached.
Shrink Reflection
What am I memorizing that I could instead explain?
Shrink Step
For a fact you're learning, ask why it's true and answer it.
Shrink Minute
Pick one thing you know and ask yourself why it's so.
Shrink Takeaway
Ask why, and the fact sticks.
Medical boundary
This concept is educational and shouldn't be used to self-diagnose. It doesn't replace care from a licensed clinician. Symptoms, medication, and treatment decisions should be discussed with a qualified professional, and emergency symptoms require emergency care.
Evidence summary
A learning technique with solid supporting evidence, especially with prior knowledge.
Your next step in The Shrink Network
You're here: ShrinkDaily, the daily learning layer of The Shrink Network.
Each site in the network has one job. No matter where you enter, we help you find the next step that makes sense.
Want to understand more first?
Need care, not just information? Get clinical care, shrinkMD.
One concept a day
Get the daily concept by email
A short, clinically grounded idea each morning, from a board-certified psychiatrist. Free, and no ads.