A group of university business students received 20 hours of cognitive training using the Captain’s Log system to evaluate whether cognitive training could improve their bookkeeping productivity. An active control group received 20 hours of computerized arithmetic training. The results showed that the students in the cognitive training group improved by 79%, as measured by a one-hour standardized bookkeeping test. The active control group that was drilled on mathematical exercises improved by only 46%.
Against expectations, the more skilled individuals benefited more from the cognitive training than the less skilled individuals, suggesting that work performance can be enhanced by cognitive training even at higher skill levels.
This is one of the first well-controlled studies that clearly shows generalization of cognitive training to real-life work performance. The results support that using the Captain’s Log system is a valid training approach to improve real-life job performance in mid-level office jobs. To read the full study, click here.