The external evaluation of Birkbeck University of London: Learning of Counterintuitive Concepts

UNLOCKE: Understanding the learning of counterintuitive concepts in science and mathematics education through a behavioural and neuroimaging study of year 3 and year 5 primary-school inhibitory control training (in comparison to social skills training or lessons as usual)

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN20284041

Enrollment

6700

Registered

2018-01-02

Start date

2017-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-09-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Inhibitory control and maths and science performance in primary school education Not Applicable

Interventions

Multicentre interventional 10-week trial with random allocation of groups to intervention, active and passive control conditions assessed by blind evaluators. A cluster design is planned, where year 3

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. In Year 3 and 5 (approximate ages 8 and 10) of one of our participating schools 2. Male or female 3. Consent given with not opting-out

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Participants will be excluded from the statistical analysis if the parental opt-out form is received by Birkbeck

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Mathematics and science year 3 and year 5 outcomes measured using the GL Assessments Progress Test in Maths and Progress Test in Science at 2 weeks following intervention completion. PTM8 and PTS8 will be used for year 3 and PTS10 and PTM10 will be used for year 5. Key Stage 1 assessment data is used as a pre-test measure (and therefore covariate in any analysis). A combined KS1 assessment measure will be used that would include task/test assessments in reading, writing and maths as the correlation with science outcomes at KS2 is still strong.	—

Measure

Time frame

Mathematics and science year 3 and year 5 outcomes measured using the GL Assessments Progress Test in Maths and Progress Test in Science at 2 weeks following intervention completion. PTM8 and PTS8 will be used for year 3 and PTS10 and PTM10 will be used for year 5. Key Stage 1 assessment data is used as a pre-test measure (and therefore covariate in any analysis). A combined KS1 assessment measure will be used that would include task/test assessments in reading, writing and maths as the correlation with science outcomes at KS2 is still strong.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Pupil scores on the chimeric animal Stroop task at 2 weeks following intervention completion	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026