1
|
Donolato E, Toffalini E, Rogde K, Nordahl-Hansen A, Lervåg A, Norbury C, Melby-Lervåg M. Oral language interventions can improve language outcomes in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2023; 19:e1368. [PMID: 38024782 PMCID: PMC10680434 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Young people who fail to develop language as expected face significant challenges in all aspects of life. Unfortunately, language disorders are common, either as a distinct condition (e.g., Developmental Language Disorder) or as a part of another neurodevelopmental condition (e.g., autism). Finding ways to attenuate language problems through intervention has the potential to yield great benefits not only for the individual but also for society as a whole. Objectives This meta-analytic review examined the effect of oral language interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Search Methods The last electronic search was conducted in April 2022. Selection Criteria Intervention studies had to target language skills for children from 2 to 18 years of age with Developmental Language Disorder, autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Williams syndrome in randomised controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs. Control groups had to include business-as-usual, waiting list, passive or active conditions. However, we excluded studies in which the active control group received a different type, delivery, or dosage of another language intervention. Eligible interventions implemented explicit and structured activities (i.e., explicit instruction of vocabulary, narrative structure or grammatical rules) and/or implicit and broad activities (i.e., shared book reading, general language stimulation). The intervention studies had to assess language skills in receptive and/or expressive modalities. Data Collection and Analysis The search provided 8195 records after deduplication. Records were screened by title and abstract, leading to full-text examinations of 448 records. We performed Correlated and Hierarchical Effects models and ran a retrospective power analysis via simulation. Publication bias was assessed via p-curve and precision-effect estimate. Main Results We examined 38 studies, with 46 group comparisons and 108 effects comparing pre-/post-tests and eight studies, with 12 group comparisons and 21 effects at follow-up. The results showed a mean effect size of d = 0.27 at the post-test and d = 0.18 at follow-up. However, there was evidence of publication bias and overestimation of the mean effects. Effects from the meta-analysis were significantly related to these elements: (1) receptive vocabulary and omnibus receptive measures showed smaller effect sizes relative to expressive vocabulary, grammar, expressive and receptive discourse, and omnibus expressive tests; and (2) the length of the intervention, where longer sessions conducted over a longer period of time were more beneficial than brief sessions and short-term interventions. Neither moderators concerning participants' characteristics (children's diagnosis, diagnostic status, age, sex, and non-verbal cognitive ability and severity of language impairment), nor those regarding of the treatment components and implementation of the language interventions (intervention content, setting, delivery agent, session structure of the intervention or total number of sessions) reached significance. The same occurred to indicators of study quality. The risk of bias assessment showed that reporting quality for the studies examined in the review was poor. Authors’ Conclusions In sum, the current evidence base is promising but inconclusive. Pre-registration and replication of more robust and adequately powered trials, which include a wider range of diagnostic conditions, together with more long-term follow-up comparisons, are needed to drive evidence-based practice and policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Enrico Toffalini
- Department of General Psychology University of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Kristin Rogde
- Department of Special Needs Education University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | | | | | - Courtenay Norbury
- Division of Psychology & Language Sciences University College London London UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dietl JE, Derksen C, Keller FM, Lippke S. Interdisciplinary and interprofessional communication intervention: How psychological safety fosters communication and increases patient safety. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1164288. [PMID: 37397302 PMCID: PMC10310961 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Effective teamwork and communication are imperative for patient safety and quality care. Communication errors and human failures are considered the main source of patient harm. Thus, team trainings focusing on communication and creating psychologically safe environments are required. This can facilitate challenging communication and teamwork scenarios, prevent patient safety risks, and increase team performance perception. The sparse research concerning communication interventions calls for an understanding of psychological mechanisms. Therefore, this study investigated mechanisms of an interpersonal team intervention targeting communication and the relation of psychological safety to patient safety and team performance perception based on the applied input-process-output model of team effectiveness. Methods Before and after a 4-h communication intervention for multidisciplinary teams, a paper-pencil survey with N = 137 healthcare workers from obstetric units of two university hospitals was conducted. Changes after the intervention in perceived communication, patient safety risks, and team performance perception were analyzed via t-tests. To examine psychological mechanisms regarding psychological safety and communication behavior, mediation analyses were conducted. Results On average, perceived patient safety risks were lower after the intervention than before the intervention (MT1 = 3.220, SDT1 = 0.735; MT2 = 2.887, SDT2 = 0.902). This change was statistically significant (t (67) = 2.760, p =.007). However, no such effect was found for interpersonal communication and team performance perception. The results illustrate the mediating role of interpersonal communication between psychological safety and safety performances operationalized as perceived patient safety risks (α1∗β1 = -0.163, 95% CI [-0.310, -0.046]) and team performance perception (α1∗β1 = 0.189, 95% CI [0.044, 0.370]). Discussion This study demonstrates the psychological mechanisms of communication team training to foster safety performances and psychological safety as an important predecessor for interpersonal communication. Our results highlight the importance of teamwork for patient safety. Interpersonal and interprofessional team training represents a novel approach as it empirically brings together interpersonal communication and collaboration in the context of patient safety. Future research should work on follow-up measures in randomized-controlled trials to broaden an understanding of changes over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Elisa Dietl
- Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, School of Business, Social and Decision Science, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christina Derksen
- Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, School of Business, Social and Decision Science, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
| | - Franziska Maria Keller
- Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, School of Business, Social and Decision Science, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
- Klinikum Bremerhaven Reinkenheide gGmbH, Treatment Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Sonia Lippke
- Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, School of Business, Social and Decision Science, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sugarman BS, Sullivan ZB, Le D, Killelea C, Faherty MS, Diehl LH, Wittstein JR, Riboh JC, Toth AP, Amendola A, Taylor DC, Sell TC. Isometric Knee Strength is Greater in Individuals Who Score Higher on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Int J Sports Phys Ther 2022; 17:1330-1339. [PMID: 36518832 PMCID: PMC9718725 DOI: 10.26603/001c.39737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is extremely common among athletes. Rate of second ACL injury due to surgical graft rupture or contralateral limb ACL injury is approximately 15-32%. Psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) may be an important predictor of successful RTS outcomes. Psychological readiness can be quantified using the ACL Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) questionnaire, with higher scores demonstrating greater psychological readiness. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in functional performance and psychological readiness to return to sport among athletes who have undergone primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Study Design Descriptive cohort study. Methods Eighteen athletes who had undergone primary ACLR were tested at time of RTS clearance. The cohort was divided into two groups, high score (HS) and low score (LS), based on median ACL-RSI score, and performance on static and dynamic postural stability testing, lower extremity isokinetic and isometric strength testing, and single leg hop testing was compared between the groups using an independent samples t-test. Results The median ACL-RSI score was 74.17. The average ACL-RSI score was 83.1±6.2 for the HS group and 61.8±8.0 for the LS group. High scorers on the ACL-RSI performed significantly better on isometric knee flexion as measured via handheld dynamometry (22.61% ±6.01 vs. 12.12% ±4.88, p=0.001) than the low score group. Conclusion The findings suggest that increased knee flexion strength may be important for psychological readiness to RTS after primary ACLR. Further research is indicated to explore this relationship, however, a continued emphasis on improving hamstring strength may be appropriate during rehabilitation following ACLR to positively impact psychological readiness for RTS. Level of Evidence III.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Le
- School of Medicine University of North Carolina
| | | | | | - Lee H Diehl
- Orthopaedic Surgery Duke University Medical Center
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Toffalini E, Girardi P, Giofrè D, Altoè G. Entia Non Sunt Multiplicanda … Shall I look for clusters in my cognitive data? PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269584. [PMID: 35771764 PMCID: PMC9246139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Unsupervised clustering methods are increasingly being applied in psychology. Researchers may use such methods on multivariate data to reveal previously undetected sub-populations of individuals within a larger population. Realistic research scenarios in the cognitive science may not be ideally suited for a successful use of these methods, however, as they are characterized by modest effect sizes, limited sample sizes, and non-orthogonal indicators. This combination of characteristics even presents a high risk of detecting non-existing clusters. A systematic review showed that, among 191 studies published in 2016–2020 that used different clustering methods to classify human participants, the median sample size was only 322, and a median of 3 latent classes/clusters were detected. None of them concluded in favor of a one-cluster solution, potentially giving rise to an extreme publication bias. Dimensionality reduction techniques are almost never used before clustering. In a subsequent simulation study, we examined the performance of popular clustering techniques, including Gaussian mixture model, a partitioning, and a hierarchical agglomerative algorithm. We focused on their ability to detect the correct number of clusters, and on their classification accuracy. Under a reasoned set of scenarios that we considered plausible for the cognitive research, none of the methods adequately discriminates between one vs two true clusters. In addition, non-orthogonal indicators lead to a high risk of incorrectly detecting multiple clusters where none existed, even in the presence of only modest correlation (a frequent case in psychology). In conclusion, it is hard for researchers to be in a condition to achieve a valid unsupervised clustering for inferential purposes with a view to classifying individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Toffalini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- * E-mail: (ET); (GA)
| | - Paolo Girardi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Gianmarco Altoè
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- * E-mail: (ET); (GA)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Boscutti A, Pigoni A, Delvecchio G, Lazzaretti M, Mandolini GM, Girardi P, Ferro A, Sala M, Abbiati V, Cappucciati M, Bellani M, Perlini C, Rossetti MG, Balestrieri M, Damante G, Bonivento C, Rossi R, Finos L, Serretti A, Brambilla P. The Influence of 5-HTTLPR, BDNF Rs6265 and COMT Rs4680 Polymorphisms on Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder: The Role of Gender. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030482. [PMID: 35328036 PMCID: PMC8954186 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Impulsivity has been proposed as an endophenotype for bipolar disorder (BD); moreover, impulsivity levels have been shown to carry prognostic significance and to be quality-of-life predictors. To date, reports about the genetic determinants of impulsivity in mood disorders are limited, with no studies on BD individuals. Individuals with BD and healthy controls (HC) were recruited in the context of an observational, multisite study (GECOBIP). Subjects were genotyped for three candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (5-HTTLPR, COMT rs4680, BDNF rs6265); impulsivity was measured through the Italian version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). A mixed-effects regression model was built, with BIS scores as dependent variables, genotypes of the three polymorphisms as fixed effects, and centers of enrollment as random effect. Compared to HC, scores for all BIS factors were higher among subjects with euthymic BD (adjusted β for Total BIS score: 5.35, p < 0.001). No significant interaction effect was evident between disease status (HC vs. BD) and SNP status for any polymorphism. Considering the whole sample, BDNF Met/Met homozygosis was associated with lower BIS scores across all three factors (adjusted β for Total BIS score: −10.2, p < 0.001). A significant 5-HTTLPR x gender interaction was found for the SS genotype, associated with higher BIS scores in females only (adjusted β for Total BIS score: 12.0, p = 0.001). Finally, COMT polymorphism status was not significantly associated with BIS scores. In conclusion, BD diagnosis did not influence the effect on impulsivity scores for any of the three SNPs considered. Only one SNP—the BDNF rs6265 Met/Met homozygosis—was independently associated with lower impulsivity scores. The 5-HTTLPR SS genotype was associated with higher impulsivity scores in females only. Further studies adopting genome-wide screening in larger samples are needed to define the genetic basis of impulsivity in BD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Boscutti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Pigoni
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
- Social and Affective Neuroscience Group, MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, 55100 Lucca, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Delvecchio
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Matteo Lazzaretti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Gian Mario Mandolini
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Paolo Girardi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (P.G.); (L.F.)
| | - Adele Ferro
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Michela Sala
- Mental Health Department, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Alessandria, 15121 Alessandria, Italy;
| | - Vera Abbiati
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Marco Cappucciati
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Piacenza, 29121 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Marcella Bellani
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Cinzia Perlini
- Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Maria Gloria Rossetti
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Matteo Balestrieri
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Carolina Bonivento
- IRCCS “E. Medea”, Polo Friuli-Venezia Giulia, San Vito al Tagliamento, 33078 Pordenone, Italy;
| | - Roberta Rossi
- Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio FBF, 25125 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Livio Finos
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (P.G.); (L.F.)
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (A.P.); (G.D.); (M.L.); (G.M.M.); (A.F.); (M.G.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Addressing context dependence in ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:158-170. [PMID: 34756764 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Context dependence is widely invoked to explain disparate results in ecology. It arises when the magnitude or sign of a relationship varies due to the conditions under which it is observed. Such variation, especially when unexplained, can lead to spurious or seemingly contradictory conclusions, which can limit understanding and our ability to transfer findings across studies, space, and time. Using examples from biological invasions, we identify two types of context dependence resulting from four sources: mechanistic context dependence arises from interaction effects; and apparent context dependence can arise from the presence of confounding factors, problems of statistical inference, and methodological differences among studies. Addressing context dependence is a critical challenge in ecology, essential for increased understanding and prediction.
Collapse
|
7
|
Pavlov YG, Adamian N, Appelhoff S, Arvaneh M, Benwell CSY, Beste C, Bland AR, Bradford DE, Bublatzky F, Busch NA, Clayson PE, Cruse D, Czeszumski A, Dreber A, Dumas G, Ehinger B, Ganis G, He X, Hinojosa JA, Huber-Huber C, Inzlicht M, Jack BN, Johannesson M, Jones R, Kalenkovich E, Kaltwasser L, Karimi-Rouzbahani H, Keil A, König P, Kouara L, Kulke L, Ladouceur CD, Langer N, Liesefeld HR, Luque D, MacNamara A, Mudrik L, Muthuraman M, Neal LB, Nilsonne G, Niso G, Ocklenburg S, Oostenveld R, Pernet CR, Pourtois G, Ruzzoli M, Sass SM, Schaefer A, Senderecka M, Snyder JS, Tamnes CK, Tognoli E, van Vugt MK, Verona E, Vloeberghs R, Welke D, Wessel JR, Zakharov I, Mushtaq F. #EEGManyLabs: Investigating the replicability of influential EEG experiments. Cortex 2021; 144:213-229. [PMID: 33965167 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There is growing awareness across the neuroscience community that the replicability of findings about the relationship between brain activity and cognitive phenomena can be improved by conducting studies with high statistical power that adhere to well-defined and standardised analysis pipelines. Inspired by recent efforts from the psychological sciences, and with the desire to examine some of the foundational findings using electroencephalography (EEG), we have launched #EEGManyLabs, a large-scale international collaborative replication effort. Since its discovery in the early 20th century, EEG has had a profound influence on our understanding of human cognition, but there is limited evidence on the replicability of some of the most highly cited discoveries. After a systematic search and selection process, we have identified 27 of the most influential and continually cited studies in the field. We plan to directly test the replicability of key findings from 20 of these studies in teams of at least three independent laboratories. The design and protocol of each replication effort will be submitted as a Registered Report and peer-reviewed prior to data collection. Prediction markets, open to all EEG researchers, will be used as a forecasting tool to examine which findings the community expects to replicate. This project will update our confidence in some of the most influential EEG findings and generate a large open access database that can be used to inform future research practices. Finally, through this international effort, we hope to create a cultural shift towards inclusive, high-powered multi-laboratory collaborations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri G Pavlov
- University of Tuebingen, Germany; Ural Federal University, Russia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anna Dreber
- Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden; University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Xun He
- Bournemouth University, UK
| | - José A Hinojosa
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; Universidad Nebrija, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura Kaltwasser
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Peter König
- University Osnabrück, Germany; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Louisa Kulke
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | | | - Nicolas Langer
- University of Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - David Luque
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain; Universidad de Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Liad Mudrik
- School of Psychological Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | | | | | | | - Guiomar Niso
- Indiana University, Bloomington, USA; Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and CIBER-BBN, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joel S Snyder
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dominik Welke
- Max-Planck-Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Germany
| | - Jan R Wessel
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA; University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dyslexia treatment studies: A systematic review and suggestions on testing treatment efficacy with small effects and small samples. Behav Res Methods 2021; 53:1954-1972. [PMID: 33694077 PMCID: PMC8516770 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-021-01549-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Poor response to treatment is a defining characteristic of reading disorder. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that the overall average effect size for treatment efficacy was modest, with a mean standardized difference of 0.38. Small true effects, combined with the difficulty to recruit large samples, seriously challenge researchers planning to test treatment efficacy in dyslexia and potentially in other learning disorders. Nonetheless, most published studies claim effectiveness, generally based on liberal use of multiple testing. This inflates the risk that most statistically significant results are associated with overestimated effect sizes. To enhance power, we propose the strategic use of repeated measurements with mixed-effects modelling. This novel approach would enable us to estimate both individual parameters and population-level effects more reliably. We suggest assessing a reading outcome not once, but three times, at pre-treatment and three times at post-treatment. Such design would require only modest additional efforts compared to current practices. Based on this, we performed ad hoc a priori design analyses via simulation studies. Results showed that using the novel design may allow one to reach adequate power even with low sample sizes of 30–40 participants (i.e., 15–20 participants per group) for a typical effect size of d = 0.38. Nonetheless, more conservative assumptions are warranted for various reasons, including a high risk of publication bias in the extant literature. Our considerations can be extended to intervention studies of other types of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
|
9
|
Feraco T, Casali N, Tortora C, Dal Bon C, Accarrino D, Meneghetti C. Using Mobile Devices in Teaching Large University Classes: How Does It Affect Exam Success? Front Psychol 2020; 11:1363. [PMID: 32695048 PMCID: PMC7338752 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the role of mobile-based student response systems in teaching to improve university students’ academic outcomes. Mobile devices can be useful tools for conveying content to large classes, with a potential impact on academic outcomes. This study involved a total of 294 undergraduates taking a psychology course. The course involved lessons in the classroom, which included answering quizzes (quiz activities) and activities such as preparing reports and laboratory experiences (out-of-class activities). Quizzes were administered using a mobile technology system. Data were collected on the motivational beliefs (theory of intelligence) and self-regulated learning strategies of students who voluntarily completed the online questionnaires. The results of the linear models showed that using the quizzes positively affected the performance in the final exams (involving closed and open questions). The same was true for the out-of-class activities. The motivation and strategy scores correlated moderately with out-of-class activities, but not with quiz activities. These results offer insight on the use of technology during lessons and other course-related activities to promote academic achievement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Feraco
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Pentathlon Srl, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicole Casali
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Carla Tortora
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|