The Impact of Working Memory Training on Children's Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills

Eva Berger, Ernst Fehr, Henning Hermes, Daniel Schunk () and Kirsten Winkel ()
Additional contact information
Daniel Schunk: University of Mainz
Kirsten Winkel: University of Mainz

No 13338, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Working memory capacity is thought to play an important role for a wide range of cognitive and noncognitive skills such as fluid intelligence, math, reading, the inhibition of pre-potent impulses or more general self-regulation abilities. Because these abilities substantially affect individuals' life trajectories in terms of health, education, and earnings, the question of whether working memory (WM) training can improve them is of considerable importance. However, whether WM training leads to improvements in these far-transfer skills is contested. Here, we examine the causal impact of WM training embedded in regular school teaching by a randomized educational intervention involving a sample of 6-7 years old first graders. We find substantial immediate and lasting gains in working memory capacity. In addition, we document relatively large positive effects on geometry skills, reading skills, Raven's fluid IQ measure, the ability to inhibit pre-potent impulses and self-regulation abilities. Moreover, these far-transfer effects emerge over time and only become fully visible after 12-13 months. Finally, we document that 3-4 years after the intervention, the children who received training have a roughly 16 percentage points higher probability of entering the academic track in secondary school.

Keywords: noncognitive skills; academic outcomes; working memory; field experiment; cognitive skills; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 I2 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 78 pages
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-neu
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Forthcoming - forthcoming in: Journal of Political Economy, 2025

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Impact of Working-Memory Training on Children’s Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills (2025)
Working Paper: The Impact of Working Memory Training on Children’s Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills (2024)
Working Paper: The Impact of Working Memory Training on Children's Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills (2024)
Working Paper: The impact of working memory training on children’s cognitive and noncognitive skills (2024)
Working Paper: The Impact of Working Memory Training on Children’s Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills (2020)
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