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Academic Underperformance in Children with ADHD. Is Medication the Solution?

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1st aim: quantify the effects of MPH on academic performance assessed in terms of both productivity and accuracy while distinguishing between core academic subjects (math, reading and spelling). Key findings: MPH has small to medium sized positive effects on math accuracy and math productivity (Chapters 2, 3 and 6) and reading speed (Chapter 2). MPH has no effect on reading accuracy and spelling (Chapters 2 and 3). Overall academic effects of MPH are small compared to behavioral effects and limited to math (Chapters 2 and 3). 2nd aim: unravel the mechanism behind MPH-effects on academic performance, thereby distinguishing between academic productivity and academic accuracy for math, reading and spelling. Key findings: Children with ADHD have cognitive impairments (visuospatial working memory and lapses of attention), and are less intrinsically motivated for math (Chapter 4). MPH has large effects on ADHD symptoms (Chapter 3). There are no effects of MPH on cognition and motivation (Chapter 4). The only evidence for mediating variables influencing MPH-effects on academic performance relates to improvements in ADHD symptoms (parent-rated) and improvements in parent reports of their child’s perceived competence. These effects are specific for MPH effect on math productivity (Chapters 3 and 4). Evidence for moderating variables affecting MPH effects on academic performance is limited to math ability: Children with below-average math performance profit more from MPH treatment than children with above-average math performance (Chapter 3). 3rd aim: quantify the effects of MPH on feedback learning in children with ADHD and the interaction between MPH and reward on math performance in children with ADHD. Key findings: Children with ADHD show intact acquisition of stimulus-reward associations and reversal learning compared to TD controls (Chapter 5). Children with ADHD are impaired when acquired knowledge needs to be applied in novel contexts (Chapter 5) MPH treatment improves learning of stimulusreward associations and shows potential (trend effect) to improve generalization of knowledge (Chapter 5). Parents of children with ADHD report differential responses of their children to punishment and reward, compared to parents of TD controls (Chapter 4). Children with ADHD and TD controls profit equally from positive feedback and reward, resulting in better math performance (Chapter 6). MPH treatment does not affect the ability to profit from feedback and reward on a math task (Chapter 6).
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Chapter
Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis (CMA) is a computer program for meta‐analysis that was developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health in the United States. CMA features a spreadsheet view and a menu‐driven interface. As such, it allows a researcher to enter data and perform a simple analysis in a matter of minutes. At the same time, it offers a wide array of advanced features, including the ability to plot the distribution of true effects, to compare the effect size in subgroups of studies, to run meta‐regression, to estimate the potential impact of publication bias, and to produce high‐resolution plots. The program's website, http://www.Meta‐Analysis.com , features PDFs and videos that explain how to perform, interpret, and report a meta‐analysis.
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Book
I: Background.- 1. An Introduction.- 2. Conceptualizations of Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination.- II: Self-Determination Theory.- 3. Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Perceived Causality and Perceived Competence.- 4. Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Interpersonal Communication and Intrapersonal Regulation.- 5. Toward an Organismic Integration Theory: Motivation and Development.- 6. Causality Orientations Theory: Personality Influences on Motivation.- III: Alternative Approaches.- 7. Operant and Attributional Theories.- 8. Information-Processing Theories.- IV: Applications and Implications.- 9. Education.- 10. Psychotherapy.- 11. Work.- 12. Sports.- References.- Author Index.
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