ERIC Number: EJ1338334
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Jun
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-0819
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Relational Operant Skills Training Increases Standardized Matrices Scores in Adolescents: A Stratified Active-Controlled Trial
McLoughlin, Shane; Tyndall, Ian; Pereira, Antonina
Journal of Behavioral Education, v31 n2 p298-325 Jun 2022
In recent years, small-scale studies have suggested that we may be able to substantially strengthen children's general cognitive abilities and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores using a relational operant skills training program (SMART). Only one of these studies to date has included an active Control Condition, and that study reported the smallest mean IQ rise. The present study is a larger stratified active-controlled trial to independently test the utility of SMART training for raising Non-verbal IQ (NVIQ) and processing speed. We measured personality traits, NVIQs, and processing speeds of a cohort of school pupils (aged 12-15). Participants were allocated to either a SMART intervention group or a Scratch computer coding control group, for a period of 3 months. We reassessed pupils' NVIQs and processing speeds after the 3-month intervention. We observed a significant mean increase in the SMART training group's (final n[subscript exp] = 43) NVIQs of 5.98 points, while there was a nonsignificant increase of 1.85 points in the Scratch active-control group (final n[subscript cont] = 27). We also observed an increase in processing speed across both conditions (final n[subscript exp] = 70; n[subscript cont] = 55) over Time. Our results suggest that relational skills training may be useful for improving performance on matrices tasks, and perhaps in future, accelerating children's progression toward developmental milestones.
Descriptors: Cognitive Ability, Intelligence Quotient, Early Adolescents, Programming, Coding, Computer Software, Intervention, Thinking Skills
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A