Project ReAL
What is the Project ReAL?
The Project ReAL (Neurobehavioral Development of Reading and Arithmetic Skills - A Longitudinal Study) studies the normal and impaired development of reading and arithmetic. This project aims at a combination of behavioral and neuroscientific data collection methods on a longitudinal basis.
Background
Reading and arithmetic are central cultural skills. However, it is not entirely clear how these skills are acquired, and why some people have problems acquiring them.
In behavior the limitations of the use of less sophisticated strategies become obvious (Siegler, 1986). At the neuronal level, the existence of dyslexia or dyscalculia shows functional and structural deviations in networks whose relevance for reading and arithmetic respectively has been proven (Shaywitz et al., 2006; Ansari, 2008).
Research questions
Based on the outlined results, Project ReAL focuses on the following questions:
- How does the use of specific reading and arithmetic strategies develop?
- How do neuronal systems for reading and arithmetic develop over the time in school?
- Can overlapping causes be identified for the comorbid existence of dyslexia and dyscalculia?
Research design
Based on preliminary studies which surveyed the pre-skills of reading and arithmetic, about 100 children were selected for a longitudinal study. Apart from a control group of children with no conspicuous skills in either area, groups of children were formed who show both a risk of an individual development disorder and a risk of developing both development disorders. Based on an initial survey shortly after school entry in autumn 2009, annual data collection will take place over the course of the time in primary school.
The children are confronted with tasks in reading and arithmetic with different levels of difficulty. In doing so, children are comprehensively studied at the behavioral level (see the micro-genetic analysis according to Siegler, 1986), in order to allow the identification of different applied strategies. In addition, neuronal foundations are studied by dint of different neuroscientific methods – functionally during the work on the tasks (fMRI, EEG) as well as structurally (DTI).
Scientific coordinator
Prof. Dr. Marcus Hasselhorn
Dr. Sven Lindberg
Dr. Jan Lonnemann
