Investigation of the associations between dance, executive functions and educational outcomes in primary school

执行功能（EF）的核心组成部分-抑制控制，工作记忆和转换-是计划，推理和解决问题的基础。EF将横向和纵向与学术成就联系起来。较弱的EF在发育障碍和低SES儿童中很常见。因此，为了提高学术成果，开发了几种EF培训干预措施，并取得了不同的成功。这个博士学位涉及两个主要因素。首先，系统的文献综述或荟萃分析以前的工作调查不同类型的体育锻炼对EF在儿童期的影响将进行识别成功的干预措施的关键成分。第二，一个新的校本舞蹈倡议结合体育锻炼（舞蹈）与认知训练（创造力）将进行评估。创造力、文化和教育组织将在40所英格兰小学的5年级儿童（9-10岁）中进行随机对照试验（RCT）。我将与我的学术导师合作，（1）就RCT的设计提供建议，特别是确定合适的主动控制干预措施，（2）选择并进行术前，术后和长期随访评估，以回答关于身体活动，创造力和EF之间因果关系的新的具体问题，以及更远的学校出勤率，参与度和成就结果。该项目与ESRC的可持续发展，繁荣和福祉研究主题有关。联合国预测，到2050年，世界城市人口将大幅增加（2018年：55%，2050年：68%）;与此同时，英国的儿童贫困率将上升（2018年：30%，2019年：37%）。一项可以在城市环境中开展的活动，涉及体育锻炼，并导致提高教育效率和更广泛的成果，有可能被教育政策制定者采纳，并改善儿童，特别是社会经济地位低的儿童的福祉和劳动力市场的成功。

The core components of executive functioning (EF) - inhibitory control, working memory and switching -are the basis for planning, reasoning and problem-solving. EF associates cross-sectionally and longitudinally with academic achievement. Weaker EF is common in developmental disorders, as well as in low SES children. Several EF training interventions have therefore been developed, with a view to improve academic outcome, with varied success. This PhD involves two main elements. First, a systematic literature review or meta-analysis of prior work investigating the impact of different types of physical exercise on EF in childhood will be carried out to identify key ingredients of successful interventions. Second, a novel school-based dance initiative combining physical exercise (dancing) with cognitive training (creativity) will be evaluated. The organisation Creativity, Culture and Education will run a randomised control trial (RCT) with Year 5 children (9-10-year-olds) in 40 primary England schools. I will work with my academic supervisor to (1) advise on the design of the RCT, in particular the identification of a suitable active control intervention, and (2) select and carry out pre-, post- and long-term follow up assessments to allow new specific questions to be answered on the causal pathways between physical activity, creativity and EF, and more distal school attendance, engagement and attainment outcomes. This project is pertinent to the ESRC sustainability, prosperity and well-being research theme. The UN has projected a significant increase in the world's population (2018: 55%, 2050: 68%) living in urban areas by2050; in parallel, child poverty in the UK increasing (2018: 30%, 2019: 37%). An activity which can be carried out in urban settings, involves physical exercise and leads to improvements in EFs and broader outcomes has the potential to be adopted by education policy makers and improve well-being and labour market success for children, particularly low SES children.