Promoting Academic Success in Urban Head Start Children: A Pilot Study to Enhance Cognitive Control Through Metacognitive Monitoring

Assistant Professor Amanda Tarullo from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Associate Professor and Director of the Family Certificate Program Ruth Paris from the School of Social Work, and Assistant Professor Kathleen Corriveau from the School of Education will conduct a study of urban preschool children in Boston to determine if metacognitive monitoring – reflecting on and judging one’s own performance – could contribute to improved cognitive control among vulnerable youth.

Past research shows that low income urban preschool children have early-emerging deficits in cognitive control, defined as a one’s ability to ignore distractions, sustain attention and suppress impulsive responses. This study will provide key information on intervention strategies that may improve educational success by helping children self-regulate cognition and behavior.

Tarullo, Paris and Corriveau will study preschool students in eight classrooms at urban Head Start programs in Boston and introduce the intervention among a randomly selected classroom cohort. Parent and teacher questionnaires will provide additional insight into other factors that may influence child development.

View more projects funded through our Early Stage Urban Research Awards