학술논문

Study protocol: How does cognitive flexibility relate to other executive functions and learning in healthy young adults?
Document Type
Report
Source
PLoS ONE. July 20, 2023, Vol. 18 Issue 7, e0286208
Subject
Singapore
Language
English
ISSN
1932-6203
Abstract
Background Cognitive flexibility (CF) enables individuals to readily shift from one concept or mode of practice/thoughts to another in response to changes in the environment and feedback, making CF vital to optimise success in obtaining goals. However, how CF relates to other executive functions (e.g., working memory, response inhibition), mental abilities (e.g., creativity, literacy, numeracy, intelligence, structure learning), and social factors (e.g., multilingualism, tolerance of uncertainty, perceived social support, social decision-making) is less well understood. The current study aims to (1) establish the construct validity of CF in relation to other executive function skills and intelligence, and (2) elucidate specific relationships between CF, structure learning, creativity, career decision making and planning, and other life skills. Methods This study will recruit up to 400 healthy Singaporean young adults (age 18-30) to complete a wide range of cognitive tasks and social questionnaires/tasks. The richness of the task/questionnaire battery and within-participant administration enables us to use computational modelling and structural equation modelling to examine connections between the latent constructs of interest. Significance and Impact The current study is the first systematic investigation into the construct validity of CF and its interrelationship with other important cognitive skills such as learning and creativity, within an Asian context. The study will further explore the concept of CF as a non-unitary construct, a novel theoretical proposition in the field. The inclusion of a structure learning paradigm is intended to inform future development of a novel intervention paradigm to enhance CF. Finally, the results of the study will be useful for informing classroom pedagogy and the design of lifelong learning policies and curricula, as part of the wider remit of the Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC).
Author(s): Ke Tong 1,*, Yuan Ni Chan 1, Xiaoqin Cheng 1, Bobby Cheon 2, Michelle Ellefson 3, Restria Fauziana 1, Shengchuang Feng 1, Nastassja Fischer 1, Balázs Gulyás 1, Natalie [...]