Understanding Cognitive-Academic Bidirectionality in Math Learning Disabilities
NCT ID: NCT07220746
Last Updated: 2025-10-24
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
300 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-08-01
2030-04-30
Brief Summary
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* Does combining a math word problem solving intervention with a working memory intervention improve math to a greater extent than the same math intervention without cognitive training?
* Do the findings provide evidence for bidirectional effects on development? In other words, does working memory support math learning and does math learning support working memory development?
Screening for eligibility will take place in two testing sessions. Students who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
1. One treatment group will receive a validated treatment for math word problem solving plus computerized working memory training.
2. Another treatment group will receive the same validated math treatment plus computerized reading instruction.
3. A control group will receive the conventional school math program, including any additional school-provided intervention.
Participants in both treatment groups will receive 35 minutes of tutoring three times per week for 15 weeks.
Children who are selected to participate in the study will be tested once before this project's intervention begins; twice after intervention starts; twice after intervention ends; and once near the end of second grade to see how long effects last.
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Detailed Description
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Participants are 300 children who begin 1st grade with math delays \& low WM. They are identified as meeting inclusion criteria using a 2-stage screening process. Children who enter the study complete pretesting \& then are randomly assigned to 3 conditions: (1) CO-Tx, standard-of-care math treatment + computerized WM training, provided contiguously \& with coordinated supports for cross-domain transfer (the innovation); (2) M-Tx, the same standard-of- care math treatment + the same amount of computerized reading instructional activities (the contrast standard-of-care condition); \& (3) CON, the control group (maturation and the conventional school program, including classroom instruction and school-provided intervention). Children in conditions 1 \& 2 receive researcher-delivered intervention at their school for 15 weeks (3 times per week, 35-min per session). WM \& math are assessed at pretest, 5 weeks later, another 5 weeks later, posttest, delayed posttest, and follow-up. The study is conducted in 5 cohorts, with 1/5 of the sample entering the study each year.
The Overall Goal is to test CO-Tx's added value over standard-of-care (SOC) math intervention (and over conventional school programming \& maturation) while deepening understanding of bidirectional influences between WM \& math as a mechanism by which CO-Tx's effects occur and providing insight into cognitive-academic mutualism in children with math delays at start of 1st grade. Aim 1 tests CO-Tx's added value over M-Tx (SOC math intervention + computerized reading activities in each session's 1st component to control for CO-Tx's WM training time) and over CON (the control group) on WM and math (Arith \& WPS) at posttest \& delayed posttest. One-year follow-up effects are explored. Aim 2 assesses (a) whether bidirectional relations between WM \& math are involved in the mediation pathway linking CO-Tx's effects on delayed posttest math \& WM and (b) whether bidirectional relations are stronger in CO-Tx than other conditions. Exploratory Aim 3 (subgroup effects) provides insight into the robustness of CO-Tx's effects for boys vs. girls, as a function of economic disadvantage, and for native-Spanish-speaking English learners (i.e., who receive English language services) vs. non-English learners (i.e., native English speakers and non-native-English speakers who do not receive English language services), and ADHD symptom level.
This CT impacts science by deepening understanding about the potential of innovative treatment based on cognitive academic mutualism theory to enhance learning over conventional SOC math intervention; by providing insights into cognitive-academic mutualism as a framework for expanding LD intervention science; and more generally by advancing understanding about cognitive-academic mutualism in developmental science. Results may impact clinical practice by providing proof-of-concept evidence on an innovative approach for advancing LD intervention science. This CT is relevant significant \& relevant because math disabilities are associated with poor school, employment, everyday life, \& mental health outcomes and given the pressing need to expand the framework for treating LDs.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Coordinated Treatment
The coordinated treatment group receives standard-of-care math treatment + computerized working memory training, provided contiguously \& with coordinated supports for cross-domain transfer.
Coordinated Treatment
Coordinated Treatment provides 15 weeks (3 35-minute sessions per week) of intervention. Each session comprises 2 components delivered contiguously by the same tutor: 15 min of working memory training, immediately followed by 20 min of math (arithmetic \& word-problem solving)intervention. Explicit transfer instruction is woven into both components.
Math Treatment
The math treatment group receives standard-of-care math treatment + computerized reading instructional activities.
Math Treatment
Math Treatment provides 15 weeks (three 35-minute sessions per week) of intervention. Each session comprises 2 components delivered contiguously by the same tutor: 15 min of computerized reading instruction, immediately followed by 20 min of math (arithmetic \& word-problem solving) intervention.
Control
The control group receives only the conventional school program, including classroom instruction and school-provided intervention.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Coordinated Treatment
Coordinated Treatment provides 15 weeks (3 35-minute sessions per week) of intervention. Each session comprises 2 components delivered contiguously by the same tutor: 15 min of working memory training, immediately followed by 20 min of math (arithmetic \& word-problem solving)intervention. Explicit transfer instruction is woven into both components.
Math Treatment
Math Treatment provides 15 weeks (three 35-minute sessions per week) of intervention. Each session comprises 2 components delivered contiguously by the same tutor: 15 min of computerized reading instruction, immediately followed by 20 min of math (arithmetic \& word-problem solving) intervention.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Is a member of a first-grade classroom whose teacher has agreed to let his/her students participate
* Has the available school schedule to participate
* Scores below the 30th percentile on the study's screening math test
* Scores below the 50th percentile on the study's working memory test
* Scores at or above the 7th percentile on at least one of the study's two measures of cognitive performance
Exclusion Criterion:
* Does not attend a participating school in the Metropolitan-Nashville Public Schools
* Is not a member of a first-grade classroom whose teacher has agreed to let his/her students participate
* Does not have the available school schedule to participate
* Scores at or above 30th percentile on the study's screening math test
* Scores at or above the 50th percentile on the study's screening working test
* Scores below the 7th percentile on both of the study's two measures of cognitive performance
6 Years
8 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
NIH
Vanderbilt University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Marcia Barnes
Professor
Locations
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Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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240343
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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