Specijalna Edukacija i Rehabilitacija (Jan 2019)

Selective attention and inhibition in young school-aged children

  • Gligorović Milica,
  • Buha Nataša

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 2
pp. 157 – 177

Abstract

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The aims of this research were to determine the developmental dynamics of selective attention and inhibition in younger school-aged children, as well as its relationship with gender and intellectual abilities. The sample consisted of 94 children [46 (48.9%) girls] of typical intellectual abilities (IQ 92-136; M=107.6, SD=11.08), aged between 8-11 years and 6 months. Selective attention and inhibition were assessed by Dodrill's Stroop test. Analysis of the results revealed statistically significant positive correlation of moderate degree (r=0.57) and highly statistically significant difference between the first and the second part of the Stroop test (p≤0.000). Age (p≤0.000), gender (p=0.001) and intellectual abilities (p=0.012) were statistically significant factors of Stroop performance. Age explains 30% of results variability, gender 15%, and differences in intellectual abilities 9%. Performance of 8 and 9 year-olds was statistically significantly different compared to 10 and 11 year-olds, which confirms the existence of developmental jump in selective attention and inhibition that occurs around 10 years of age.

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