Characteristics of academic adaptation and cognitive functions of students with disabilities
Authors:   Saratov State University, Shamionov Rail M. , Grigorieva Marina V ,   Saratov State University, Sozonnik Alexey V. ,   Saratov State University, Grinina Elena S. ,   Saratov State University, Silyutina Natalia G. ,   NMC psychological support for families with children with special educational needs, Protasov Pavel A. ,   NMC psychological support for families with children with special educational needs
Published: November 2020

The correlation of the characteristics of academic adaptation and cognitive functions of students with disabilities will make it possible to develop the best strategies in implementing the principle of equal educational opportunities in higher educational institutions for all students. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of academic adaptation and the cognitive functions of students with disabilities and without health restrictions. It is assumed that there is a specificity of cognitive functions and academic adaptation of students with HIA and without restrictions that contribute to academic adaptation and academic success. The study involved 419 students, including 32 (7.8%) students with disabilities. The following methods and techniques were used. The components of academic adaptation were measured using the academic adaptation scale (Shamionov R.M., Grigoriev M.V., Grinina E.S., Sozonnik A.V.). Methods included in the Practice-Moscow State University system were used to evaluate cognitive functions. To study the features of student thinking, the test "Complex analogies" was used, which allows you to identify verbal abilities (thinking by analogy). The assessment of the ability to concentrate and switch attention was carried out using the test "Red-black tables" (F.D. Gorbov). Assessment of students' logical thinking was performed using the Quantitative Relationships test. To evaluate the formal logical abilities and abilities for cognitive learning of students, the Standard Progressive Raven Matrices technique was used. Socio-demographic indicators were measured using the developed questionnaire. As a result of the study, the similarity of indicators of personal, emotional-evaluation, cognitive and motivational components of academic adaptation was established. The severity of psychophysiological (t=3.25; p<0.01) and communicative (t=2.05; p<0.05) components is lower in students with disabilities. Significant differences have been established in the main indicators of attention switching. Lower indicators of attention switching (t=2.82; p<0.02), low pace (t=2.39; p<0.03), accuracy (t=2.27; p<0.04) and productivity (t=2.63; p<0.02) were identified. The relationship between the characteristics of academic adaptation and cognitive functions is predominantly reduced not to the function itself, but to the general performance, time spent on solving certain problems. The higher success of studies at the university of those who have the ability to understand abstraction and complex logical (r=0.219; p<0.01) connections has been confirmed. Conclusions were drawn on the need to create conditions for the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities in the process of teaching students with disabilities in terms of individualizing the educational trajectory, creating conditions for improving communicative competence and mechanisms of psychophysiological self-regulation.