Methods to Demonstrate the Efficacy of Cognitive Training Interventions

该奖项授予威斯康星州-麦迪逊大学，为围绕认知训练干预有效性主张的方法论问题会议提供支持。研讨会定于2016年5月在马萨诸塞州波士顿举行。很多人关注基于计算机的学习干预或游戏对认知基本方面的潜在好处。事实上，公众对这个问题非常感兴趣，它已经催生了一个不断增长的行业，声称对STEM内容的学习有积极影响。也就是说，对于证据是否支持这些说法存在很大分歧。这次会议是研究人员就必须解决的问题达成一致的机会，以便声称学习干预是成功的。该项目由EHR核心研究计划资助，该计划支持推进STEM学习研究文献的基础研究。会议将涵盖以下主题：培训时间表，转移电池的大小和组成，现实世界影响的证据，缺乏双盲和可能的预期效应和非安慰剂效应，弱势或特殊人群，互联网与实验室培训，基础研究最佳实践与商业或翻译工作中使用的最佳实践，与其他类型干预的关系，以及与教育环境中的影响有关的具体问题。会议形式包括正式发言和一系列小组会议，重点讨论具体问题，与会者在这些会议上讨论并起草有关这些问题的动议。最后，将汇编一份协商一致文件，并纳入修正案和不同意见。

This award to the University of Wisconsin - Madison provides support for a conference on methodological issues surrounding claims about the efficacy of cognitive training interventions. The workshop is scheduled to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, in May, 2016. Much attention has been given to the potential benefits of computer-based learning interventions or games for fundamental aspects of cognition. Indeed, there is great public interest in the question and it has given rise to a growing industry with claims about positive effects on the learning of STEM content. That said, there is great disagreement as to whether the evidence supports the claims. This conference is an opportunity for researchers to reach agreement on the issues that must be resolved in order for one to claim that a learning intervention was successful. The project is funded by the EHR Core Research program, which supports fundamental research that advances the research literature on STEM learning. Sessions at the conference will cover such topics as training schedules, size and composition of transfer batteries, evidence for real-world impact, lack of double-blinding and possible expectation effects and non-placebo effects, vulnerable or special populations, internet vs. lab training, basic research best practices vs. those used in commercial or translational work, relationships to other types of interventions, and specific concerns related to impact in educational settings. The conference format includes formal presentations and a series of small group sessions focused on specific issues in which participants discuss and then draft motions concerning them. Finally, a consensus document will be assembled, with amendments and dissenting opinions incorporated.