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The Role of Executive Functions in Socioeconomic Attainment Gaps: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Blakey, E; Matthews, D; Cragg, L; Buck, J; Cameron, D; Higgins, B; Pepper, L; Ridley, E; Sullivan, E; Carroll, D.J.

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Authors

E Blakey

D Matthews

L Cragg

J Buck

D Cameron

B Higgins

L Pepper

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Ellen Ridley ellen.ridley@durham.ac.uk
PGR Student Doctor of Philosophy

E Sullivan

D.J. Carroll



Abstract

The socioeconomic attainment gap in mathematics starts early and increases over time. This study aimed to examine why this gap exists. Four‐year‐olds from diverse backgrounds were randomly allocated to a brief intervention designed to improve executive functions (N = 87) or to an active control group (N = 88). The study was preregistered and followed CONSORT guidelines. Executive functions and mathematical skills were measured at baseline, 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year posttraining. Executive functions mediated the relation between socioeconomic status and mathematical skills. Children improved over training, but this did not transfer to untrained executive functions or mathematics. Executive functions may explain socioeconomic attainment gaps, but cognitive training directly targeting executive functions is not an effective way to narrow this gap.

Citation

Blakey, E., Matthews, D., Cragg, L., Buck, J., Cameron, D., Higgins, B., …Carroll, D. (2020). The Role of Executive Functions in Socioeconomic Attainment Gaps: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Child Development, 91(5), 1594-1614. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13358

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 3, 2019
Online Publication Date Feb 6, 2020
Publication Date 2020-09
Deposit Date Feb 10, 2020
Publicly Available Date Feb 6, 2021
Journal Child Development
Print ISSN 0009-3920
Electronic ISSN 1467-8624
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 91
Issue 5
Pages 1594-1614
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13358

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article:
Blakey, E, Matthews, D, Cragg, L, Buck, J, Cameron, D, Higgins, B, Pepper, L, Ridley, E, Sullivan, E & Carroll, D.J. (2020). The Role of Executive Functions in Socioeconomic Attainment Gaps: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Child Development 91(5): 1594-1614 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13358. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.




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