Dana Cohen 

Doctorate Scholarship at the field of Numerical development and learning disabilities

My PhD research, under the supervision of Dr. Shelley Shaul, focuses on investigating the role of cognitive flexibility in basic and complex mathematical and reading abilities from first grade to fourth grade longitudinally. The main purposes of my research are to address the specific role of flexibility in quantitative and literacy tasks that require high understanding (e.g. arithmetic word problem, reading comprehension) compared to tasks that require basic skills (e.g. simple calculation and word reading). To divide the participants into profiles (high, medium, low flexibility) according to the results of their performance in the task of cognitive flexibility, and accordingly to examine the differences in their achievement in the numeracy and literacy domains. Furthermore, to examine the stability of the flexibility profile of children and understand which factors may help to promote flexibility.