Implications of crib sheets for student well-being and exam performance: a mixed methods study

Abstract

Existing research on the use of crib sheets as a study aid spans several decades and provides inconclusive results. Later studies called for further research on the content of crib sheets as well as their application in different disciplines. We respond to these calls with a mixed methods research design based on a sample of business students enrolled in six undergraduate and graduate consumer behavior classes in the UK over a three-year period. First, a content analysis of 168 crib sheets examined salient content and layout features to understand their association with exam performance levels. Then, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen students to identify the extent to which crib sheets aided their learning and reduced their exam stress. While developing crib sheets can be a valuable tool for enhancing learning, interviewees perceived crib sheets as both a source of security and a potential stressor, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of the implications of crib sheets on well-being.