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Interval Length and Time-Use by Children with AD/HD: A Comparison of Four Models

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Abstract

Predictions made by 4 competing models of time use by children with AD/HD were tested using a computerized version of the Matching Familiar Figures Test in 2 studies. In Study 1 teacher-identified AD/HD children (N = 10) and non-AD/HD controls (N = 10) completed the task under 3 different trial duration conditions (5, 10, and 15 s). In Study 2 the same task was completed by a group of children with a diagnosis of Hyperkinetic Disorder (N = 12) and controls (N = 12). In both studies AD/HD children performed poorly on trials of both 5- and 15-s duration but as well as controls on the 10-s trials. This quadratic function provided support for the State Regulation Deficit model of time use in AD/HD. The value of tailoring the temporal features of learning contexts to the conceptual style of AD/HD children is discussed.

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  1. Centre for Research into Psychological Development, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton at Highfield, Southampton, England

    Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke

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  1. Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke
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Correspondence to Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke.

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Sonuga-Barke, E.J.S. Interval Length and Time-Use by Children with AD/HD: A Comparison of Four Models. J Abnorm Child Psychol 30, 257–264 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015154829796

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015154829796

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