Exceptional Children Psychology
Fatemeh Khandani; Noorali Farrokhi; Abotaleb Saadati Shamir
Abstract
IntroductionThe aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of executive function training and play therapy on promoting the learning of mathematical concepts of students with learning disabilities. Learning mathematics is one of the basic subjects related to learning science, which has been devoted ...
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IntroductionThe aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of executive function training and play therapy on promoting the learning of mathematical concepts of students with learning disabilities. Learning mathematics is one of the basic subjects related to learning science, which has been devoted to many studies and theories. Students learn not only to calculate in mathematics. Rather, they learn how to reason and use it to solve their real life problems. Disruption in mathematical calculations is manifested in various ways, including difficulty in determining sizes or naming mathematical numbers, inability to count, compare, and mental and practical calculations. Children with math disorder have problems with math calculation or reasoning ability in math. Due to the difference in the definitions of learning disorder and also the difference in the attitudes and educational goals of these children, the prevalence estimate fluctuates from one to thirty. MethodThe present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical sample consisted of 45 third grade elementary students who were selected by available sampling method and were replaced in 3 groups of executive functions training, play therapy and control group. The research tool was Tabrizi Learning Disorder Checklist (2010) & the K-Matt mathematical test. Experiment participants were trained in 10 sessions of 90 minutes. The sample size examined in this research was 45 people. After implementing the questionnaire on the sample, using a pre-test-post-test experimental plan with a control group, 15 people were randomly placed in the control group, 15 people in the executive functions training method, and 15 people in the play therapy training method. In the pre-examination phase, the amount of arithmetic skill learning was measured using the mentioned questionnaires. Then the researcher used educational methods (executive functions and play therapy and common education) for the studied groups for 10 sessions. At the end of the training period (post-test), the researcher obtained the scores of the questionnaire for learning mathematical concepts and arithmetic skills from all three groups (executive functions, play therapy and control). ResultsFindings showed that there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of executive function training and play therapy on learning mathematical concepts (P <0.01). Also, there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of executive function training and play therapy on learning mathematical concepts (P <0.01).DiscussionThe results showed that both executive functions and play therapy interventions have beneficial effects on learning mathematical concepts of students with learning math. It can be concluded that there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of teaching executive functions and play therapy on learning mathematical concepts of students with mathematical learning disabilities. In other words, both group training of executive functions and play therapy are effective on learning mathematical concepts of students with mathematical learning disabilities.
maliheh aminian; moslem asli azad
Abstract
IntroductionOne of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which affects many aspects of development, including the development of social, emotional and cognitive functions in the home and school environment. Attention deficit/hyperactivity ...
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IntroductionOne of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which affects many aspects of development, including the development of social, emotional and cognitive functions in the home and school environment. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by unpleasant developmental disorders and impairment in gross motor activities, attention and impulsivity and affects 3–5% of children worldwide. These children are prone to many complications, including poor academic performance, behavioral disorders, communication disorders, social withdrawal and adjustment problems. Children with this disorder do not have the ability to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities. They are often disorganized when performing activities and perform tasks carelessly and without sufficient thought. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of play therapy based on a cognitive-behavioral approach on executive functions and social competence in female students with signs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. MethodThe research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest, post-test, control group and two-month follow-up period design. The statistical population included female fourth- and fifth-grade students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Zone 2 in the city of Shiraz in the academic year 2019-20. 27 students were selected through the purposive sampling method from the statistical population and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Then, the children in the experimental group received play therapy based on a cognitive-behavioral approach in 10 sessions of 50 minutes over the course of one month. The applied questionnaires included the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Questionnaire (ADHDQ) (Brock, Clinton, 2007), the Social Competence Scale (SCS) (Cohen and Rosman, 1972), and the Executive Functions Questionnaire (EFQ) (Gerard et al., 2000). Mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni follow-up test levels were used to analyze the data. ResultThe results showed that the play therapy method based on a cognitive-behavioral approach has been effective on the executive functions and social competence of the students with signs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (P<0.005). These results were stable in the follow-up period. Therefore, it is concluded that play therapy based on the cognitive-behavioral approach has had a significant effect on the executive functions and social competence of students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder by 59 and 60 percent. Statistical power also indicates high statistical accuracy and a sufficient sample size. ConclusionAccording to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that play therapy based on a cognitive-behavioral approach can be used as an efficient method to improve executive functions and social competence in students with signs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Through increasing interpersonal and group communication skills, self-consciousness, and negative emotion coping skills, and problem-solving and decision-making skills.
mohammad vatankhah; seyed musa kafi; Abbas Abolqasemi; Iraj Shakerinia
Abstract
Abstract Due to the difficulty in emotion regulation and executive functions of obese adolescents, psychological interventions have a great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of self-regulation training on weight control, executive functions and emotion regulation ...
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Abstract Due to the difficulty in emotion regulation and executive functions of obese adolescents, psychological interventions have a great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of self-regulation training on weight control, executive functions and emotion regulation in overweight and obese adolescents. The research design was semi-experimental with control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of obese and overweight adolescents in Isfahan who referred to health centers in Isfahan in 1398. Samples were selected by convenience sampling from those referring to health centers in Isfahan. Research tools including Gratz and Romer (2004) emotion regulation difficulty questionnaire, Wisconsin and Stroop test were used to measure executive functions. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. The results of the analysis showed that self-regulation training was effective on participants' BMI, emotion regulation, and executive functions. However, BMI as the second independent variable was not effective in the results of the study. Behavioral regulation training is effective on body mass index, emotion regulation, and executive functions regardless of participants' level of obesity and overweight. According to the research results, it can be concluded that self-regulatory training can improve weight control, executive functions and emotion regulation of obese and overweight adolescents. These results can be explained as self-regulatory training has skills and exercises that it is closely related to eating behavior, emotion regulation, and executive functions.
