Facebook pixelEffects of Higher-order Cognitive Strategy Training on Gist Reasoning and Fact-Learning in Adolescents
Go to home page
Go to home page

Effects of Higher-order Cognitive Strategy Training on Gist Reasoning and Fact-Learning in Adolescents

Happy teen high school student studying with laptop books doing online research homework assignment, smiling teenage girl using computer for children online education concept.

Frontiers in Psychology

Jacquelyn F. Gamino, Sandra B. Chapman, Elizabeth L. Hull and G. Reid Lyon

Read full research article

Overview

We found that the students who had cognitive strategy instruction that entailed abstraction of meaning significantly improved their gist-reasoning and fact-learning ability. The students who learned rote memory strategies significantly improved their fact learning scores from a text but not gist-reasoning ability. The control group showed no significant change in either gist-reasoning or fact learning ability. A trend toward significant improvement in overall reading scores for the group that learned to abstract meaning as well as a significant correlation between gist-reasoning ability and the critical thinking on a state-mandated standardized reading test was also found. There were no significant differences between English and Spanish performance of gist-reasoning and fact learning. Our findings suggest that teaching higher-order cognitive strategies facilitates gist-reasoning ability and student learning.

Share this article

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Jacquelyn Gamino, PhD

Director of Adolescent Reasoning Initiative Assistant Research Professor

Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD

Chief Director Dee Wyly Distinguished Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

RELATED PROGRAMS

SMART Brain Training

Take a scientific approach to leadership development. Our brains are adaptable and trainable, driven by how we engage every day. In the same way that we can improve our bodies through physical fitness, we can increase our focus, creativity and mental efficiency with targeted strategies and healthy brain habits.