Elaborative Interrogation: Ask 'Why' to Deepen Understanding

Elaborative interrogation is a study strategy where you prompt yourself to explain why a fact or concept is true, rather than simply accepting it at face value. By generating causal explanations — even imperfect ones — you force your brain to connect new information to existing knowledge, creating richer and more durable memory traces.

For learners tackling dense or abstract material, this technique transforms passive reading into active sense-making. AI is an ideal partner here because it can immediately evaluate your 'why' explanations, fill in gaps, and push you to go deeper without judgment.

How to apply it

While studying a concept like 'supply and demand,' open Claude and type: 'I think prices rise when demand increases because buyers compete for limited goods — is my reasoning correct, and what am I missing?' Let the AI confirm, correct, and extend your explanation before moving on to the next idea.