Testing Whether a Short Training Program Designed to Improve Cognitive Skills Improves 4-year-olds' Maths Skills

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cognitive Development

• Registration Number: NCT03063411
• Lead Sponsor: University of Sheffield

Brief Summary

This study will test whether a short training program - designed to improve memory and attention skills - will benefit mathematical reasoning in preschoolers from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. The investigators will test how long any benefits last for and whether any intervention effects are greater for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The aim is to test interventions that aim to close the achievement gap by improving skills known to underpin academic skills, at an age children may benefit most from training.

Detailed Description

Children's academic success across a range of domains is related to their executive function skills - specifically by their ability to maintain and update information (working memory) and to suppress inappropriate responses (inhibitory control). These skills undergo significant development during the preschool years. Notably, preschool executive function skills strongly predict school readiness, as well as concurrent and later academic achievements in mathematics. The aim of this project is to test an intervention that is specifically designed to improve preschoolers' executive functions - crucially, before the achievement gap sets in. The study will be carried out, following CONSORT (2010) guidelines, with typically developing preschoolers (aged approximately 4 years of age). The study will include children from socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged families. Children will be randomly assigned to either an executive function training group or an active control group. A nominated person external to the project will conduct the random allocation process. The random allocation will be done for each nursery to ensure roughly even numbers in each group from each nursery. Children in both groups will complete computerized tasks lasting 15-20 minutes once a week for four weeks. The investigators will compare the trained children to an active control group that closely matches the training in terms of activity. To check for improvements, the investigators will measure cognitive and maths skills at baseline (one week before training); one week post-training; three months post-training; and one year post-training. These assessments will be conducted by testers blind to the child's group.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-02-01
• Study First Submitted: 2017-02-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-02-20
• Study First Posted: 2017-02-24
• Primary Completion: 2017-07-14
• Study Completion: 2018-07-31
• Status Verified: 2018-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-11-05
• Last Update Posted: 2018-11-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 175

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in mathematical reasoning scores as measured by the WIAT-II mathematical reasoning sub-test.	Baseline = one week before the intervention; post-test = one week post-intervention, three months post-intervention.	The investigators will use the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-II to measure this (WIAT-II; Wechsler, 2005).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Long-term change in mathematical reasoning as measured by the WIAT-II mathematical reasoning sub-test.	One year post-training from baseline
Change in verbal working memory as measured by the Backward Word Span task.	One week post-intervention from baseline, three months post-intervention from baseline and 1 year post-intervention from baseline.
Change in visuo-spatial working memory as measured by the Corsi Block task.	One week post-intervention from baseline, three months post-intervention from baseline and 1 year post-intervention from baseline.
Change in in inhibitory control as measured by the Grass/Snow task.	One week post-intervention from baseline, three months post-intervention from baseline and 1 year post-intervention from baseline.
Change in in inhibitory control as measured by the Peg Tapping task.	One week post-intervention from baseline, three months post-intervention from baseline and 1 year post-intervention from baseline.
Change in classroom engagement score as rated by teachers using the Classroom Engagement Scale (FitzPatrick & Pagani, 2012).	Three months post-intervention from baseline and 1 year post-intervention from baseline.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Sheffield; 🇬🇧 Sheffield, United Kingdom