Effects of programming in relation to working memory span on cognitive ability
type: CreativeWork
description: This study compared the effects of programming and innovation on cognitive abilities and whether the effects varied with working memory span (high vs. low). Sixty-seven children in 5th grade in one elementary school in Iceland were randomly assigned to two groups, involving seven weeks of interventions; programming lessons and innovation lessons. Three cognitive ability tests, WISC-IV part 2, WISC-IV part 7 and Ravens, were administered before and after intervention. A working memory test, OSPAN, was used to measure children’s working memory span. Mixed design ANOVA revealed that after innovation lessons children improved significantly from pre-test to post-test on WISC-IV part 2. Change in children’s performance on WISC-IV part 7 depended on working memory span. Children with low working memory span performed significantly higher on WISC part 7 post-test after innovation lessons while children with high working memory span scored significantly higher on WISC part 7 post-test after programming lessons. These results indicate that working memory span is a factor in the relationship between programming and increased cognitive ability.
abstract: This study compared the effects of programming and innovation on cognitive abilities and whether the effects varied with working memory span (high vs. low). Sixty-seven children in 5th grade in one elementary school in Iceland were randomly assigned to two groups, involving seven weeks of interventions; programming lessons and innovation lessons. Three cognitive ability tests, WISC-IV part 2, WISC-IV part 7 and Ravens, were administered before and after intervention. A working memory test, OSPAN, was used to measure children’s working memory span. Mixed design ANOVA revealed that after innovation lessons children improved significantly from pre-test to post-test on WISC-IV part 2. Change in children’s performance on WISC-IV part 7 depended on working memory span. Children with low working memory span performed significantly higher on WISC part 7 post-test after innovation lessons while children with high working memory span scored significantly higher on WISC part 7 post-test after programming lessons. These results indicate that working memory span is a factor in the relationship between programming and increased cognitive ability.
author: Silja Runólfsdóttir 1990-
language: en
keywords: Sálfræði, Vitsmunasálfræði, Börn, Psychology, Cognitive psychology, Children
date published: 2013-09-26
date modified: 2026-07-27T20:42:37Z
provider: Reykjavík University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Reykjavík University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/16687