What Is Elaborative Interrogation?
Elaborative interrogation a strategy that leverages questions and curiosity. Instead of just taking information at face value, you ask questions and seek answers to why it’s true or why it is happening, or how it connects to what you already know. Consider the difference between the statement “Important principles of chemistry” and “What are the important principles of chemistry?” or “Why are these chemistry principles important?”
Why It Matters
When you ask “why,” you’re not just memorizing — you’re making sense of the material and helping your brain link new ideas to things you already understand. This makes it easier to remember later. It also pushes you to think more deeply, so you really learn the concept instead of just repeating it back.
How It Works
- As you read or review notes, pause and ask, “Why does this happen?” or “Why is this important?”
- When reading a text book or an article, take the chapter or section headings and turn them into questions, and then read for the answer. For example change “The Importance of Elaborative Interrogation” into “Why is Elaborative Interrogation Important?”
- Try answering in your own words when you are done. Out loud is even better.
- Make connections: “This works like…” or “This is different from…”
- Use it with friends — quiz each other not just on facts, but on *why* those facts make sense.
