The Effectiveness of Executive Function Training on Students\' Academic Vitality and Academic Performance

Abstract

Aims: Academic vitality can play an effective role in students' academic performance; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of executive function training on students' academic vitality and academic performance. Materials & Methods: The quasi-experimental research method was pretest-posttest with a control group with a follow-up period. From the statistical population that included all seventh-grade male students in Birjand in the academic year 2019-2020, 40 people were selected by available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (20 people in each group); they answered "academic vitality" and "academic performance" questionnaires. The experimental group participated in 16 sessions of 90 minutes of executive-functional training, but the control group did not receive any training. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and analysis of variance with repeated measures between groups. Findings: Executive function training was effective in improving students' academic vitality and academic performance (p<0.01). These results continued in the follow-up period (p<0.01). Conclusion: The empowerment program based on executive functions can, along with other intervention methods, be effective in improving the vitality and academic performance of students.

Keywords

• ​​​​​​​executive functions
• academic vitality
• academic performance
• students