CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Projects In-Progress
Attention Span and COVID-19
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Criminal Justice
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Esther Malm
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation - Murray State Access only
Abstract/Description
Attention Span and COVID-19
Attention can be a hard concept for children with disabilities as well as their parent or guardian to keep. Short attention span is particularly obvious in formal learning environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, class lessons were moved from in-person to online settings. This resulted in many changes for parents, guardians, and their children without much prior preparation or accommodation to their education. Recent studies have shown that the pandemic negatively affected the attention span of typically developing children significantly from the beginning in March of 2020 to now in 2023. However, very few studies have looked into how the attention span in children with disabilities have been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic to the present time. The purpose of this study is to look at the changes in attention span of children with disabilities before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic according to parent or guardian perceptions. In this current study we examine attention span in children with disabilities from March of 2020, between May of 2020 to November 2022, and now in 2023. We hypothesize that school-aged children with disabilities may show a decrease in attention span post COVID-19 compared to pre COVID-19 or during COVID-19. Data collection and analysis is currently ongoing with a sample of 45 parents or guardians with a child who is currently taking lessons at Cassidy’s Cause Therapeutic Riding Academy. Results will be presented during scholar’s week.
Keywords: Attention Span, Attention, COVID-19, Pandemic, Parent Perceptions, Guardian Perceptions
Fall Scholars Week 2023 Event
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
Attention Span and COVID-19
Attention Span and COVID-19
Attention can be a hard concept for children with disabilities as well as their parent or guardian to keep. Short attention span is particularly obvious in formal learning environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, class lessons were moved from in-person to online settings. This resulted in many changes for parents, guardians, and their children without much prior preparation or accommodation to their education. Recent studies have shown that the pandemic negatively affected the attention span of typically developing children significantly from the beginning in March of 2020 to now in 2023. However, very few studies have looked into how the attention span in children with disabilities have been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic to the present time. The purpose of this study is to look at the changes in attention span of children with disabilities before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic according to parent or guardian perceptions. In this current study we examine attention span in children with disabilities from March of 2020, between May of 2020 to November 2022, and now in 2023. We hypothesize that school-aged children with disabilities may show a decrease in attention span post COVID-19 compared to pre COVID-19 or during COVID-19. Data collection and analysis is currently ongoing with a sample of 45 parents or guardians with a child who is currently taking lessons at Cassidy’s Cause Therapeutic Riding Academy. Results will be presented during scholar’s week.
Keywords: Attention Span, Attention, COVID-19, Pandemic, Parent Perceptions, Guardian Perceptions