Browsing by Author "Porflitt, Felipe"
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Item Evaluating the rapid automatized naming and arithmetical fluency relationship in Chilean first grade students(2021) Escobar, José Pablo; Porflitt, Felipe; Ceric, FranciscoSeveral studies have shown that Rapid Automatised Naming (RAN) is an important reading predictor. However, it has also been found that RAN is a valid predictor of mathematical performance. This study explores the relationship between RAN, counting and arithmetic fluency in Chilean first graders. A total of 102 participants were evaluated with RAN letters, phonological awareness, counting, arithmetical fluency, inhibition and verbal working memory. Results show moderate correlations between RAN and counting with arithmetical fluency. After controlling for the effect of all the variables, RAN still explains a significant variance of arithmetical fluency. Although the nature of the relationship between RAN and arithmetical fluency is multi-componential, our results only confirm the role of working memory when simultaneous counting is considered in the model. Therefore, RAN is not only an important cognitive variable related to reading processes but also a key one for mathematical skills, especially when they involve a fluency component.Item Executive Functions Can Be Improved in Preschoolers Through Systematic Playing in Educational Settings: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study(Frontiers Research Foundation, 2019) Rosas, Ricardo; Espinoza, Victoria; Porflitt, Felipe; Ceric, FranciscoThis study aimed to test the impact of play on the development of executive functions (EFs) in preschoolers. Thirty-two games were designed to be collectively played in groups by 70 children, in their regular classes. The games were specifically designed to promote the development of the three components of EFs: inhibition (behavioral or cognitive), working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The games focused on each function were of three types: playground games, expression games, and classroom games. Sixty 45 min play sessions were held on consecutive days for 3 months, always in the first period. The sessions were guided by two members of the research team, assisted by the four teachers of the participating classes. The intervention was carried out in two highly socially vulnerable schools in the city of Santiago de Chile. Four classes were studied in total: two experimental groups and two controls. The classes were selected using a questionnaire on teacher-student interaction quality and an age homogeneity criterion. EFs were evaluated using the Hearts and Flowers task at three points: before the intervention (T1), immediately after the end of the intervention (T2), and 8 months after the end of the intervention (T3). The results show a significant difference in the growth of EFs by comparing the experimental and control groups (p = 0.04) between T1 and T3. They also reveal a strong correlation between EFs measures at T1 and mathematics performance at T3. These results are discussed within the context of the guidelines proposed by Diamond and Ling (2016) and Barnett (2011) regarding what an EFs promotion program needs to be considered effective and high quality. The program presented in this study meets most of the requisites mentioned by the authors, which proves that following these guidelines guarantees a high probability of success.Item Executive Functions Can Be Improved in Preschoolers Through Systematic Playing in Educational Settings: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study(2019) Rosas, Ricardo; Espinoza, Victoria; Porflitt, Felipe; Ceric, FranciscoThis study aimed to test the impact of play on the development of executive functions (EFs) in preschoolers. Thirty-two games were designed to be collectively played in groups by 70 children, in their regular classes. The games were specifically designed to promote the development of the three components of EFs: inhibition (behavioral or cognitive), working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The games focused on each function were of three types: playground games, expression games, and classroom games. Sixty 45 min play sessions were held on consecutive days for 3 months, always in the first period. The sessions were guided by two members of the research team, assisted by the four teachers of the participating classes. The intervention was carried out in two highly socially vulnerable schools in the city of Santiago de Chile. Four classes were studied in total: two experimental groups and two controls. The classes were selected using a questionnaire on teacher-student interaction quality and an age homogeneity criterion. EFs were evaluated using the Hearts and Flowers task at three points: before the intervention (T1), immediately after the end of the intervention (T2), and 8 months after the end of the intervention (T3). The results show a significant difference in the growth of EFs by comparing the experimental and control groups (p = 0.04) between T1 and T3. They also reveal a strong correlation between EFs measures at T1 and mathematics performance at T3. These results are discussed within the context of the guidelines proposed by Diamond and Ling (2016) and Barnett (2011) regarding what an EFs promotion program needs to be considered effective and high quality. The program presented in this study meets most of the requisites mentioned by the authors, which proves that following these guidelines guarantees a high probability of success.Item The role of executive functions in the relation between socioeconomic level and the development of reading and maths skills(2018) Escobar, José-Pablo; Rosas-Díaz, Ricardo; Ceric, Francisco; Aparicio, Andrés; Arango, Paulina; Arroyo, Rodrigo; Espinoza, Victoria; Garolera, Marion; Pizarro, Marcelo; Porflitt, Felipe; Ramírez, María-Paz; Urzúa, DiegoExecutive functions (EF) are a set of processes that allow individuals to plan, monitor and organize tasks and thus play a key role in the development of reading and maths skills. Environmental factors such as socioeconomic level (SEL) influence reading and maths skills as well as EFs. The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which executive functions play a mediating role between SEL and reading and maths performance. To this end, we assessed 286 Chilean primary education students: 86 with a high SEL and 200 with a low level. The results show that the high-SEL group obtained consistently higher scores than their peers with low SEL levels in both reading and maths tasks as well as in EF measurements. This suggests that SEL could influence the development of these variables. The results also showed that EFs partially mediate the relation between SEL and reading and maths skills in primary school students through the specific function of inhibition. The results are discussed in light of the effect of SEL on the development of EFs and school learning.