Pascale M. J. Engel|Flávia H. Santos|Susan E. Gathercole
Are Working Memory Measures Free of Socioeconomic Influence?
University of York|Google (United States)|Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)|Google (United States)|University of York|Google (United States)
purpose study evaluated impact socioeconomic factors childrens performance tests working memory vocabulary method twenty brazilian children aged 6 7 years lowincome families completed tests working memory verbal shortterm memory verbal complex span vocabulary expressive receptive group brazilian children families higher socioeconomic status matched age gender nonverbal ability also participated study results children low socioeconomic group obtained significantly lower scores measures expressive receptive vocabulary higher income peers significant group differences found working memory measures conclusion measures working memory provide assessments cognitive abilities appear impervious substantial differences socioeconomic background measures highly sensitive language ability learning general appear provide useful methods diagnosing specific learning difficulties independent environmental opportunity