The effect of adaptive difficulty adjustment on the effectiveness of a game to develop executive function skills for learners of different ages

• Published in: Cognitive development 2019-01, Vol.49, p.56-67
• Main Authors: Plass, J.L, Homer, B.D., Pawar, S., Brenner, C., MacNamara, A.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptivity; Executive functions; Game-based learning; Zone of Optimal Engagement
• ISSN: 0885-2014; 1879-226X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.11.006

•A game designed to train executive functions increased shifting skills for all learners after 20min of play.•Adolescents’ executive functions increased more than pre-adolescents’ and early adolescents’ EF.•Adaptive treatment may be more effective than the non-adaptive treatment for adolescents.•User logs showed that adaptivity helped customize players’ gameplay based on their performance.•Results support the use of digital games to train EF for a broad range of learners. Research suggests that gains in executive function (EF) skills training are strongest when task difficulty increases progressively, yet findings on the effectiveness of adaptive approaches for EF training are inconsistent. This study compared the effectiveness of an adaptive vs a non-adaptive version of a digital game designed to train the EF sub-skill of shifting. Results showed increases in shifting skills for all learners between pretest and posttest measures, with adolescents scoring higher than pre-adolescents and early adolescents on posttest measures. Data analysis uncovered a trend suggesting that the adaptive treatment may be more effective than the non-adaptive treatment for adolescents. User logs showed that adaptivity helped customize players’ gameplay based on their performance, by making game play easier for younger learners, and making game play more difficult for older learners. Results support the use of digital games to train EF for a broad range of learners.