Finals Edition: Experts offer strategies for stress reduction

Chris Schunn believes we live in the era of “no child left untested.”

Schunn, a professor in Pitt’s Department of Psychology and a scientist at Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center, said teachers are relying more heavily on test-taking as a method for assessment than ever before. But for many students, test-taking can induce a great deal of stress and deter them from performing to the best of their ability on test day.

Studies have shown that worry is inversely related to performance: In 2013, researches from Ohio State University-Newark showed that math anxiety can have negative effects on working memory.

Schunn said stress can affect a student’s scores. Even though most college students have developed studying and test-taking strategies, including reading all questions carefully, some psychological distractions can hinder their performance.

There are two main reasons why a students’ mind wanders during a test, according to Schunn. First, students might suffer from anxiety. Second, students might doubt their ability to score well on an exam.

Casey Pacifico, a senior marketing and communication major, said she experiences anxiety during exams.

“The anxiety kicks in because of the time limit, and anything that requires a lot of problem solving adds to the anxiety,” Pacifico said.

Kathryn Roecklein, a psychology professor at Pitt, said some tests are better than others at judging how much a student has learned.

“Tests that require a student to apply information they’ve learned can be harder to administer, but may provide more information about a student’s ability to use and manipulate the information they have learned,” she said.

Jess Klimczyk, a junior media and professional communications major, said she does not think some assessments, such as standardized tests with multiple choice questions, are a fair way to measure her knowledge.

“I express myself much better through writing,” she said.

For students who fear becoming the victim of stressful influences during finals week, Schunn offers some advice.

“One good strategy is to spend five minutes just before the test and write a diary entry that talks about current feelings and talks about what bigger things in life are important to you,” he said.

Roecklein also agrees that there are ways students can alleviate stress before tests. She said students should consider speaking with a counselor or therapist about their anxiety.

Roecklein said students need to remember to continue healthy living habits, as well.

“Be sure to take breaks and remember that exercise and sleep, although they take time away from studying, can improve mood, increase concentration and aid memory, so they will help you with finals,” she said.

Researchers and educators across the nation are working to combat test anxiety. Numerous studies have shown the effect of relaxation training using biofeedback, as well as pranayama yoga, on anxiety reduction. Biofeedback monitors and displays an individual’s skin temperature, muscle tension and brain wave activity. Individuals then focus on making subtle changes in the body to relax.

Pitt’s Stress Free Zone offers biofeedback, as well as other stress-reduction methods, such as massage, meditation and yoga classes. The Zone’s walk-in hours are from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday during finals week

Schunn said most well-designed tests are generally reliable assessment methods, despite their potential adverse effects.

“We don’t yet have a brain-o-meter that can assess the more fine-grained kind of skills and knowledge,” he said.