The effect of attention control on mind wandering

Authors
Fateme Zahra Moradi
Siavash Talepasand
Isaac Rahimian Boogar
Semnan University
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of attention control on mind wandering. The method of this research was semi-experimental. The statistical population includes fifth and sixth grade female students of Semnan city in the academic year of 1400-1401. The number of 38 people from the statistical population was calculated as available, and in order to predict the drop of the subjects or the loss of data, 2 people were present in the study more than the number of the calculated sample. The tool used to measure mind wandering was the Stroop test, which was completed under active and reactive attention control conditions. The data were analyzed using one-factor analysis of variance and repeated measurement by SPSS25 software. The findings showed that mind wandering is more in active attention control conditions than in reactive attention control conditions. The findings of this study can provide useful insight in understanding the phenomenon of mind wandering. Teachers and educational designers, having the knowledge related to this field, can design and produce educational content that students will experience during virtual education, where the minimum supervision by the teacher takes place during the learning process. The wandering of the mind will be less on the part of the students.
Keywords
mind wandering
attention control
executive function
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