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Working Memory Training (WMT) with a reduced Recall Accuracy Threshold (RAT): Enhancing Secondary Memory Capacity

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Intervention Details

Subjects

English Language Arts, Math

Academic Program

General Education

Duration

5 weeks, 30-45 minutes, 5 days per week

Grades

6, 7, 8

Personnel

Coach

Intervention Summary

Two-component Working Memory Training, Adaptive One-Component Working Memory Training, and Non-Adaptive One-Component Working Memory Training are three versions of a working memory training program that target both primary memory (PM) and secondary memory (SM) components of working memory. The training program includes 12 verbal and spatial simple working memory span tasks. Participants train on four common exercises and four critical exercises each day, with the common exercises rotating throughout the duration of training. The critical exercises are identical across the three training conditions, but the recall accuracy threshold (RAT) and adaptivity of the training differ between conditions. The two-component condition has a reduced RAT and adaptivity, the adaptive one-component condition has a 100% RAT and adaptivity, and the non-adaptive one-component condition has a fixed span length of two items and no adaptivity.

Statistical Finding Summary

Two-component trainees became more error prone

Non-adaptive one-component group had significantly greater Reading Total scores than both two-component and adaptive one-component groups at post-test but not follow-up

Non-adaptive one-component group also had significantly greater Literature Comprehension scores compared to the two-component and adaptive one-component WMT groups at post-test but not follow-up

Source

Bradley S., G., Dawn M., G., Emily, L., Joseph R., P., Kathryn J., R., Pedro, S. & Robert W., M. (2017). Targeting the Three Stages of Retrieval from Secondary Memory in a Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Working Memory Training Study (ED586839). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED586839.pdf.

Data Sample by Population

These charts show the characteristics of the student populations studied. When assessing programs, you may want to prioritize interventions that yielded success in a similar demographic environment as your school or district.