The present investigation attempted to identify and evaluate naturally occurring (i.e., self-initiated) methods for self-controlling poor study behavior. This was done in three steps: (a) successful and unsuccessful subjects (n = 24) were interviewed about the methods they used; (b) some of these subjects (n = 6) were observed as they studied in their natural environment; (c) the successful methods identified in the previous steps were evaluated in a controlled treatment study with a new sample of subjects (n = 45). The self-control techniques identified in the earlier steps received some further support in the last step. A number of methodological, empirical, and logical concerns argue for caution when interpreting these results. Nevertheless, the methodology applied here shows promise for identifying useful self-control techniques, and the techniques evaluated here show promise for improving study behavior.
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