"Why?" is the most powerful question for learning. Elaborative interrogation—the practice of asking "why" and "how" questions about material—dramatically improves comprehension and retention. AI flashcards make it easy to implement this proven strategy systematically.
Elaborative interrogation is the process of asking yourself "why" or "how" questions about what you're learning, then answering them. Instead of passively accepting facts, you actively explain the reasons behind them, creating richer, more connected memories.
Research shows that students who ask and answer "why" questions retain 50-70% more information than those who simply read and reread material. The explanation process forces deeper cognitive processing, transforming surface learning into deep learning and leveraging the generation effect.
AI generates "why" and "how" questions that boost retention 50-70%.
Start FreeAI analyzes your study materials and creates flashcards that go beyond "what" to ask "why" and "how":
Surface-Level Card:
Q: What is mitosis?
A: Cell division process
Elaborative Card:
Q: Why is mitosis necessary for multicellular organisms?
A: Growth, tissue repair, and replacement of dead cells all require creating identical daughter cells with the same genetic information.
AI generates questions that force you to connect concepts across topics, build ing integrated understanding rather than isolated facts.
Get elaborative "why" and "how" questions automatically generated from your materials.
Try Elaborative Interrogation →