博論新想法＋switching attention定義(7/10更新)

【博論新想法】我想我還是作"switching attention"的電腦化測驗吧！

可能因為最近看到的論文都把"switching attention"跟"executive functions"作連結，所以一度覺得自己該改為發展"executive functions"的電腦化測驗，
但是後來覺得：應該可以試著找出二者的關聯，然後發展"switching attention"的電腦化測驗。畢竟EF的概念還是比較複雜，若switching attention與EF有關聯，之後可以switching attention的評估分數預測個案的EF能力!

 【博論最初想法】
原本我想就C-SDMT發展一個補充型的測驗【加上顏色作為符號配對的另一選擇】。但是後來想一想，C-SDMT是為了改善SDMT缺點而設計的，好像也沒必要加上補充測驗。另外，補充測驗的理論基礎有點薄弱，因為switching attention可以是attention switching between tasks或是attention switching between rules，二者不一定要同時存在。所以不一定要加上顏色當成另一個認知特徵評估switching attention。

*最重要的是：我該試著發展一個新的工具，而不是藉由已經發展出來的工具去想!

【Switching Attention定義】switching attention又可稱為alternating attention。另外，有學者把attention分成3個component (sustain, shift, encoding) (Mirsky, Anthony, Duncan, Ahearn, & Kellam, 1991)。switching attention較偏向"shift"這個 component。

以下列出文獻中與switching attention相關的定義。

(1) Switching attention is the capacity to maintain attention to a particular stimulus characteristics in order to attend to  a new characteristic when it becomes appropriate (Amos, 2002).

(2) Alternating attention: the level of attention refers to the capacity for mental flexibility that allows individuals to shift their focus of attention and move between tasks having different cognitive requirements, thus controlling which information will be selectively processed (Sohlberg & Mateer, 2001).

(3) "Shift" component of attention: defined as the capacity to change the focus of attention flexibly (Mirsky, Anthony, Duncan, Ahearn, & Kellam, 1991).

【Executive functions (EF)-switching定義】

以下列出文獻中與EF-switching相關之定義。

(1) Switching是EF的成份之一（EF可包含三因素：switching, inhibition, and working memory)。(Miyake, Friedman, Emerson, Witzki, & Howerter, 2000)

(2)  The ability to instantiate a new behavioral set [i.e., to switch from one behavior (task) to another] has been taken to be one of the core functions of executive processes (Monsell, 1996; Rogers & Monsell, 1995; Meiran, 1996).

(3) Switching describes the ability to respond to changes in the environment by flexibility adapting to the according current demands (Cragg & Nation, 2009).

(4) The set-shifting component of EF consists of the ability to shift responses based on rules or contingencies (Weintraub et al., 2013)

【二者之關聯】
The relation between the component of attentional shifting and the EF component of switching

While attentional shifting is described as the ability to change the focus of attention flexibly and adaptively (Mirsky et al., 1991), the EF component of switching is defined as the ability to switch flexibly between tasks, operations, or mental sets (Miyake & Friedman, 2012; Miyake et al., 2000).

Both the attentional and the EF component of shifting/switching describe the same cognitive ability of a disengagement of previously relevant mental sets in order to adapt to the current environmental demands (Loher & Roebers, 2013).

【結論】
switching attention/alternating attention/attention shifting應該和EF switching的概念相同，故switching attention為EF的基本組成之一。

【欲發展的電腦化交替性注意力測驗具備甚麼特色】
1. 電腦化(隨機出題，並可加上練習階段)，以期解決紙筆式交替性注意力測驗可能會產生之練習效應問題 (因為題目固定/複本不易設計)。
2. Culture free: 以數字/幾何圖形/顏色為評估內容，不使用字母，增加文化適用性。
3. 降低visual motor/eye hand coordination的比重。

【未來可以驗證的方式】
1. 以Wisconsin Card Sorting Test作為效標(評估EF常用之評估工具)，驗證其收斂效度/預測效度。
2. 以C-SDMT作為效標，驗證其同時效度。
3. 生態效度的部分可能要找一個適合的ADL量表評估。(ADL item bank)