Date of Award

2011

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology.

Supervisor

Baird, Anne (Psychology)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Most research on training of executive functions involves older adults or individuals with brain injury. The present study was conducted with 122 undergraduates who reported some difficulties with attention and executive functions. Students either received a fourty-five minute session of Goal Management Training (GMT) or performed a distraction task. Tasks requiring goal management (GM) skills were given before and after this session. There was a significant decrease in completion time of the tasks overall (p < .05), as well as a significantly greater decrease in the experimental group (p < .05). There was a non-significant decrease in errors across both groups with no significant group difference in change. In addition to demonstrating a robust practice effect on GM tasks, the results suggest that brief GMT may be helpful to undergraduates who experience attentional difficulties. Further work is needed to understand the value and essential components of GMT in this population.

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