Attention and Achievement: A Mind Wandering Investigation

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Attention Disturbances
• Interventions: Behavioral: mind-wandering intervention; Behavioral: mind-wandering comparison

• Registration Number: NCT05296252
• Lead Sponsor: University of Houston

Brief Summary

This study assesses the impact of mind-wandering on reading and math.

Detailed Description

This study assesses the impact of mind-wandering on reading and math. Specifically 120 middle school student participants will receive descriptive measures (of achievement, attention and related factors including mind-wandering), and will receive a brief (\~30 min) lesson in reading and math (order counterbalanced). Participants will receive a brief pre-test, the lesson, and then a post-test on the reading and math outcomes. 75% of the participants will receive a brief manipulation that sets up the influence of mind-wandering, as well as redirects when probe-caught mind-wandering occurs. The remaining participants will receive only redirects, and only randomly. Among participants to receive the mind-wandering manipulation, an equal number will receive this only for reading, only for math, and for both reading and math.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-01-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-23
• Study First Posted: 2022-03-25
• Status Verified: 2022-05
• Study Start: 2022-05-11
• Primary Completion: 2022-06-15
• Study Completion: 2022-06-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-05-17
• Last Update Posted: 2023-05-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 53

Inclusion Criteria

• enrollment in schools where we have permission to conduct the study

Exclusion Criteria

• students known to be enrolled in separate curricula (e.g., life-skills classes)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mind Wandering Intervention	mind-wandering intervention	75% of participants will receive proactive and reactive mind-wandering information and redirection.
Mind Wandering Comparison	mind-wandering comparison	25% of participants will receive only mind-wandering redirection, but only at random times.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Investigator Developed Items Derived From Math Content Being Taught	adminstered one time immediately following the single math learning session on day 1	Participants will answer multiple choice questions regarding the math material being taught, and the key index will the raw score number correct. The investigators call the scale "Circles" (after the content being taught), and the possible score range will be 0 (min) to 24 (max), with higher scores meaning better comprehension of the material.
Investigator Developed Items Derived From Reading Content Being Taught	administered one time immediately following the single reading learning session on day 1	Participants will answer multiple choice questions regarding the reading material being taught, and the key index will the raw score number correct. The investigators call the scale "Sleep and Dreams" (after the content the participant is reading about), and the possible score range will be 0 (min) to 24 (max), with higher scores meaning better comprehension of the material.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Investigator Developed Probe-Caught Mind-Wandering	On 12 occasions interspersed during each of the math and reading learning sessions, on day 1 only.	During the learning (of the reading and math content), participants are prompted on several occasions as to whether their mind was wandering during the lesson. This is a single item multiple/choice scale (called Probe-Caught Mind Wandering), with the range being 0 (min) to 12 (max), with lower scores indicating the better outcome (less mind wandering)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Houston; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States