Efficacy Of Lumosity Essay
Chibuike Obinwa
Dr. Andrew Kelly
Psychology 1102
July 16, 2015
Evaluating Lumosity Using the CRAAP Test Lumosity is what many would refer to as a “brain” game. It focuses on creating several activities designed around increasing the effectiveness with which we use our brain. These activities are ultimately meant to maximize our potential to carry out several cognitive day-to-day activities such as Memory, Attention, Speed, Flexibility, Problem solving…etc. There are several short articles that quickly summarize research studies that have been done to prove the efficacy of these games on pressing topics, like those involving cancer patients.
Currency- A lot of the “Completed Research” [Lumosity.com] are considerably recent studies that mainly …show more content…
Each claim or statement is supported by experiments, although not stated how extensive, that have been carried out by researchers at colleges, such as Stanford University School of Medicine and San Francisco State University. Nevertheless, the language and manner in which the research is presented suggests a hint of bias, because most of the experiments referenced, were not carried out by independent groups. A handful of them were in collaboration with Lumos Lab, the research lab directly run and sponsored by Lumosity. For example, research about the effects of “Lumosity Cognitive Training for adults” involved work by both Lumos Lab and San Francisco State University. Considering the experiments carried out and the bias behind the way it is presented, I will rate this website 6 on …show more content…
Redick and colleagues titled “No Evidence of Intelligence Improvement After Working Memory Training: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study” focused on determining the effectiveness of training games on cognitive function. Skeptical about the research results portrayed by websites like Lumosity.com, Redick et al performed an independent study with “young adults”; a working memory group, who received “20 sessions of practice on an adaptive dual n-back program”, and an active placebo-control group. All the participants were given a series of tests “comprising multiple measures of fluid intelligence, multitasking, working memory capacity…” Results show that although there was an improvement in the “dual n-back and visual search” practice tasks, these improvements did not positively transfer to any of the “cognitive ability tests.” This study somewhat contradicts the articles published by Lumosity claiming an improvement in cognitive ability due to their games. Nevertheless, this is a study amongst countless others out there that could be used to support or disprove the theory presented by Lumosity. As a previous user of this website, the effects the games are meant to have on one’s cognitive function have not manifested in my life, which is why I rate this website as
Dr. Andrew Kelly
Psychology 1102
July 16, 2015
Evaluating Lumosity Using the CRAAP Test Lumosity is what many would refer to as a “brain” game. It focuses on creating several activities designed around increasing the effectiveness with which we use our brain. These activities are ultimately meant to maximize our potential to carry out several cognitive day-to-day activities such as Memory, Attention, Speed, Flexibility, Problem solving…etc. There are several short articles that quickly summarize research studies that have been done to prove the efficacy of these games on pressing topics, like those involving cancer patients.
Currency- A lot of the “Completed Research” [Lumosity.com] are considerably recent studies that mainly …show more content…
Each claim or statement is supported by experiments, although not stated how extensive, that have been carried out by researchers at colleges, such as Stanford University School of Medicine and San Francisco State University. Nevertheless, the language and manner in which the research is presented suggests a hint of bias, because most of the experiments referenced, were not carried out by independent groups. A handful of them were in collaboration with Lumos Lab, the research lab directly run and sponsored by Lumosity. For example, research about the effects of “Lumosity Cognitive Training for adults” involved work by both Lumos Lab and San Francisco State University. Considering the experiments carried out and the bias behind the way it is presented, I will rate this website 6 on …show more content…
Redick and colleagues titled “No Evidence of Intelligence Improvement After Working Memory Training: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study” focused on determining the effectiveness of training games on cognitive function. Skeptical about the research results portrayed by websites like Lumosity.com, Redick et al performed an independent study with “young adults”; a working memory group, who received “20 sessions of practice on an adaptive dual n-back program”, and an active placebo-control group. All the participants were given a series of tests “comprising multiple measures of fluid intelligence, multitasking, working memory capacity…” Results show that although there was an improvement in the “dual n-back and visual search” practice tasks, these improvements did not positively transfer to any of the “cognitive ability tests.” This study somewhat contradicts the articles published by Lumosity claiming an improvement in cognitive ability due to their games. Nevertheless, this is a study amongst countless others out there that could be used to support or disprove the theory presented by Lumosity. As a previous user of this website, the effects the games are meant to have on one’s cognitive function have not manifested in my life, which is why I rate this website as