News

Research project on memory difficulties among primary school children

(21 February 2005)

Memory difficulties are closely associated in primary school children with learning difficulties with key areas of the curriculum including literacy and mathematics.

The University of Durham has secured major research funding for a joint project between the School of Education and the Department of Psychology to look at the links between working memory and learning.

Starting in April 2005 the project will span a three and half year period. The first stage will be to conduct a screening programme for children with memory difficulties and then to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention in the classroom.

The research grant award of £392,000 comes from the Economic and Social Research Council and a team from the two University departments will be working with a number of local primary schools.

Professor Joe Elliott from the School of Education said that the purpose of the project is firstly to screen children with learning difficulties and then to examine how children with memory difficulties can be helped.

He said : “The team will evaluate whether the academic progress of primary school children with memory impairments is improved by an educational intervention in which memory demands are effectively managed in the classroom by teachers and support staff.”

Professor Susan Gathercole, of the Department of Psychology, said : “The effectiveness of this intervention will be compared to another widely used curriculum-based approach that is often used with children experiencing difficulties with their learning.”

Media opportunity : 11am. THURSDAY 24th FEBRUARY

Members of University of Durham joint research (Working Memory and Learning : A Screening and Evaluation Programme) project team lead by Professor Joe Elliott (School of Education) and Professor Susan Gathercole (Department of Psychology) will be visiting Durham Gilesgate Primary School Kepier Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham.

Photo/film/ interview facilities will be afforded to media representatives following the usual protocol relating to not identifying individual children.

For further information contact : Professor Joe Elliott, Department of Education, University of Durham, Tel 0191 334 8412 (e-mail joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk) or Professor Susan Gathercole, Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Tel 0191 334 0432 (e-mail : s.e.gathecole@durham.ac.uk) Media enquiries to : Tom Fennelly, University of Durham, Public Relations Office, Tel 0191 334 6078 (e-mail : t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk)

Notes to editors

The Durham School of Education has been awarded a Grade 5 in recognition of the quality of the research published by its staff in the years 1996-2000. Taking account of the number of researchers whose work was judged in this five-yearly national evaluation exercise, the School of Education is ranked amongst the top ten of the 83 institutions reporting research in education. The judgements of research quality are made by a panel of experts appointed by the Higher Education Funding Councils in the UK. All awards of a grade 5 have been subjected to review by international scholars.

The Psychology Department in Durham has the highest standards of both research and teaching. The Department is both friendly and hard working and there is a stimulating intellectual environment. The recent addition of the Applied Psychology Course at Stockton has strengthened research and teaching. Research is thriving both at Durham and Stockton. Speakers of national and international significance regularly attend to discuss current research. Present research strengths are in a number of areas including vision, developmental psychology, social psychology and cognition.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. It aims to provide high quality research on issues of importance to business, the public sector and government. The issues considered include economic competitiveness, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and quality of life.

The ERSC is currently investing more than £63 million in funding the highest quality research and developing the resources that underpin the UK's social science base.