EDITORIAL

I am pleased to introduce a paper for our Applied Practices’ section of the journal, which is entitled Working Memory Interventions with Children: Classrooms or Computers? As one of the authors of this paper, with my colleague Kit Double, I can confirm that its scope is to examine what types of interventions for working memory in children currently exist, their relative efficacy in impacting working memory itself, as well as academic achievement, self concept and classroom engagement. Importantly, we explore the relative paucity of effective interventions, despite current rhetoric about the importance of working memory as a key part of executive functions. The role of attention factors, which are critical to working memory being used appropriately, is also examined. I recommend this paper to you all to challenge your preconceptions and to realistically evaluate what you can and should consider when advising about working memory as part of your practice.

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Task Monitoring and Working Memory as Executive Components Predictive of General and Specific Academic Achievements in 6–9-Year-Old Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18136681 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 6681

Author(s):

Alberto Quílez-Robres ◽

Nieves Moyano ◽

Alejandra Cortés-Pascual

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Working Memory ◽

Academic Performance ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Language Arts ◽

Memory Task ◽

Academic Achievements ◽

Predictive Role ◽

And Mathematics ◽

The Relationship

Academic achievement has been linked to executive functions. However, it is necessary to clarify the different predictive role that executive functions have on general and specific academic achievement and to determine the most predictive executive factor of this academic achievement. The relationship and predictive role between executive functions and their components (initiative, working memory, task monitoring, organization of materials, flexibility, emotional control, inhibition, self-monitoring) with academic achievement are analyzed in this study, both globally and specifically in the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics, in 133 students from 6 to 9 years of age. The relationship obtained in Pearson’s correlation analysis does not differ substantially between overall achievement (r = 0.392) and specific achievement (r = 0.361, r = 0.361), but task monitoring (r = 0.531, r = 0.455, r = 0.446) and working memory (r = 0.512, r = 0.475, r = 0.505) had a greater relationship with general and specific achievement. Finally, regression analyses based on correlation results indicate that executive functions predict general academic performance (14.7%) and specific performance (12.3%, 12.2%) for Language Arts and Mathematics, respectively. Furthermore, working memory and task supervision represent 32.5% of general academic performance, 25.5% of performance in Language Arts, and 27.1% of performance in Mathematics. In conclusion, this study yielded exploratory data on the possible executive functions (task supervision and working memory) responsible for good general academic achievements and specific academic achievements in Mathematics and Language Arts.

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THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY CORRELATES IN ALLEVIATING STRESS ENCOUNTERED BY STUDENTS OF STANDARD X

MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends and Practices ◽

10.52634/mier/2012/v2/i1/1583 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 34-49

Author(s):

Giselle D' Souza

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Test Anxiety ◽

High Performance ◽

Research Study ◽

Self Concept ◽

Personality Correlates ◽

Purpose Of Education ◽

Self Worth ◽

Different Dimensions

Test anxiety and distress occupy pivotal positions in students' lives today, because of over emphasis on academic achievement in the modern educational system. The need for high performance in examinations has defeated the very purpose of education. The SSC examination has come to be an exhaustive exercise that makes the students learn by rote rather than comprehension. There are a few who feel completely trapped in their situation and indulge in self-destructive acts like suicide. The present research study attempted at understanding the likely role of personality correlates namely, academic self-concept, self-efficacy and locus of control in alleviating the different dimensions of stress encountered by students of standard X. It revealed a significant relationship between stress and the mentioned variables and could have important implications in helping students of standard X come to terms with their invaluable self-worth in effectively coping with the evil of the present century -stress.

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Working memory and executive functions: effects of training on academic achievement

Psychological Research ◽

10.1007/s00426-013-0537-1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 852-868 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

Cora Titz ◽

Julia Karbach

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions

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Role of Self-Concept of Academic Attainment in Achievement-Related Behaviors

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1986.58.1.151 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 151-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Robert M. Midkiff ◽

Joy Patricia Burke ◽

Jeanne P. Hunt ◽

Geraldine Cain Ellison

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Performance Feedback ◽

Self Concept ◽

Academic Attainment ◽

Performance Outcome ◽

Academic Task ◽

Eighth Grade Students ◽

And Performance ◽

Expectancy For Success

Researchers have reported that self-concept serves both as an antecedent and consequence of behavior. Given self-concept's role in achievement-related behavior, we sought clarification of factors influencing children's self-concepts of academic attainment. We examined proposed linkages among self-concept of academic attainment, academic achievement, expectancy for success, and performance outcome within a causal model using path analysis. Subjects were 208 eighth-grade students. Initial self-concept of academic attainment and initial expectancy for success were measured. Students then were given an academic task followed by performance feedback. We subsequently measured postperformance expectancy for success and postperformance self-concept of academic attainment. Students' postperformance self-concepts of academic attainment were influenced primarily by their initial self-concepts of academic attainment and, to a lesser extent, by their academic achievement and performance on an academic task.

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