Position/Status

• Professor of Cognitive Science
• Fellow, Undergraduate Tutor and Director of Studies in Education for Gonville and Caius College

Websites

• INSTRUCT Research Group
• Gonville & Caius College
• Cambridge Neuroscience
• Cambridge Big Data
• Cambridge Language Sciences

E-mail Address

mre33@cam.ac.uk

Phone

(+44) 01223 767684

Qualifications

• PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Southern Illinois University)
• MA in Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Southern Illinois University)
• BA in Psychology, summa cum laude (University of Minnesota)

Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations

• Psychonomic Society
• Cognitive Science Society (CogSci)
• Women in Cognitive Science (WiCS)
• Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
• Association for Psychological Science (APS)
• SPARK Society

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Profile

Michelle Ellefson convenes the INSTRUCT Research Group (Implementing New Student Thinking Resources Using Cognitive Theory). Michelle has scientific interests in cognition, neuroscience, child development, and education, integrating them into a multi-disciplinary research programme aimed at improving math and science education. Using an iterative process, she pairs laboratory based research with classroom learning and curriculum development in order to better understand mechanisms responsible for cognitive development and to leverage that understanding to improve educational practice. Her current research projects focus on the role of executive functions in school achievement and how children's reasoning about causes and effects impacts how they think about scientific phenomena. In addition, she is applying specific cognitive principles to classroom learning, including simplicity and desirable difficulties. Initially trained in developmental cognitive neuroscience, her interests in improving cognitive outcomes for all children have inspired her to reach beyond this foundational training to develop her integrative, multi-disciplinary approach that informs both school practice and theoretical accounts of cognitive development.

Academic Area/Links

Psychology Education & Learning (PELS)

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Research Topics

• Executive functions
• Task switching
• Causal reasoning
• Scientific reasoning
• Science education
• Educational neuroscience
• Applications of cognitive science/neuroscience to improved educational practice

Current Research Projects

• Task switching and executive functions in maths and reading achievement
• Causal reasoning in chemistry and biology
• Development of executive function abilities in children and adolescents
• Poverty & resilience in cognitive development and brain development
• Executive function intervention programmes for older children
• Evaluating causal efficacy: children and adults, novices and experts
• Design-based (or inquiry-based) learning for science education

Prospective PhD Applications

Michelle would welcome informal contact from prospective doctoral and master students regarding supervision on any of the research topics mentioned above using quantitative analysis. Prospective doctoral students should contact Michelle to discuss research, supervision structures and funding at least two months before submitting a PhD application (by October. Preference is given to doctoral applicants pursing full-time study and who apply early (first part of December). Prof Ellefson and the INSTRUCT lab hold interviews and make offer decisions by late January. Before contacting Prof Ellefson you should read important information for prospective students on the lab website.

Please note - we have made all of the offers that we can make for 2023-2024. If you are interested in PhD entry for 2024-25, then email Prof Ellefson by October 2023.

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Course Involvement

• Postgraduate
  • PhD / EdD supervisor
  • PGCE lecturer: science of learning (cognitive psychology and educational neuroscience)

• Undergraduate
  • Undergraduate Tutor for Gonville & Caius College
  • Director of Studies for Gonville and Caius College

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Selected Publications

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0407-9767

Journal Articles

Eberhart, J., Paes, T. M., Ellefson, M.., & Marcovitch, S. (2023). Executive functions and play. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 30, 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2023.100198

Lai, R. P., & Ellefson, M. R. (2023). How multidimensional is computational thinking competency? A bi-factor model of the Computational Thinking Challenge. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 61, 251-282. https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331221121052 Preprint: https://osf.io/e8n3h Data/Scripts: https://osf.io/pf6zq

Ellefson, M. R., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2022). Is replication possible without fidelity? Psychological Methods. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000473 Preprint: https://psyarxiv.com/bqnk4 Data/Scripts: https://osf.io/7y4v5 

Zonneveld, A. K., Serpell, Z., Parr, T., & Ellefson, M. R. (2022). Executive function measurement in urban schools: Exploring the links between performance-based metrics and teacher ratings. Developmental Science, 25, e13319. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13319 Preprint: https://psyarxiv.com/myr2s Preregistrations: https://osf.io/4hrvj and https://osf.io/8n2e3 Data/Scripts: https://osf.io/whzrg and https://osf.io/fkw5m

Patel, J., Aldercotte, A., Tsapali, M., Serpell, Z., Parr, T., & Ellefson, M. R. (2021). The zoo task: A novel metacognitive problem-solving task developed with a sample of African American children from schools in high poverty communities. Psychological Assessment, 33, 795-802. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001033 Preprint: https://psyarxiv.com/78y96 Data: https://osf.io/gkac3 Zoo Task (Creative Commons license): https://osf.io/c6aq7

Vasilopoulos, F., & Ellefson, M. R. (2021). Investigation of the associations between physical activity, self-regulation and educational outcomes in childhood. PLOS One, 16, e0250984. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250984 Preprint: https://psyarxiv.com/th43u

Xu, C., Ellefson, M. R., Ng, F. F., Wang, Q., & Hughes, C. (2020). An East-West contrast in executive function: Measurement invariance of computerized tasks in school-aged children and adolescents. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 199, 104929.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.104929 

Ellefson, M. R., Zachariou, A., Ng, F. F., Wang, Q., & Hughes, C. (2020). Do executive functions mediate the link between socioeconomic status and numeracy skills? A cross-site comparison of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 194, 104734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2019.104734

Barsham, H., & Ellefson, M. R. (2020). Can teaching upper primary about the ‘testing effect’ increase feelings of confidence about test-taking? Impact, 8. See the Article 

Ellefson, M. R., Baker, S. T., & Gibson, J. (2019). Lessons for Successful Cognitive Developmental Science in Educational Settings: The Case of Executive Functions. Journal of Cognition and Development, 20, 253-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2018.1551219

Tsapali, M., & Ellefson, M. R. (2019). Using direct instruction to train primary school children in decision-making skills in the science classroom. Impact, 5, 18-21. See the Article 

Poletiek, F. H., Conway, C. M., Ellefson, M. R., Lai, J., Bocanegra, B. R., & Christiansen, M. H. (2018). Under What Conditions Can Recursion be Learned? Effects of Starting Small in Artificial Grammar Learning of Center Embedded Structure, Cognitive Science, 42, 2855-2889. https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.12685

Ellefson, M. R., Ng, F. F., Wang, Q., & Hughes, C. (2017). Efficiency of executive function: A two-generation cross-cultural comparison of samples from Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Psychological Science, 28, 555-566. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616687812

Goedert, K. M., Ellefson, M. R., & Reder, B. (2014). Differences in the weighting and choice of evidence for plausible versus implausible causes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning Memory and Cognition, 40, 683-702. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035547

Hughes, P. W., & Ellefson, M. R. (2013). Inquiry-based training improves teaching effectiveness of biology teaching assistants. PLOS one, 8: e78540. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0078540

Apedoe, X. A., Ellefson, M. R., & Schunn, C. D. (2012). Learning together while designing: Does group size make a difference? Journal of Science Education and Technology, 21, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10956-011-9284-5

Vousden, J. I., Ellefson, M. R., Solity, J., & Chater, N. (2011). Simplifying reading: Applying the simplicity principle to reading. Cognitive Science, 35, 34-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1551-6709.2010.01134.X

Ellefson, M. R., Treiman, R., & Kessler, B. (2009). Learning to label letters by sounds or names: A comparison of England and the United States. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology , 102, 323-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JECP.2008.05.008

Apedoe, X. A., Reynolds, B., Ellefson, M. R., & Schunn, C. D. (2008). Bringing engineering design into high school science classrooms: The heating/cooling unit. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 17, 454-465. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10956-008-9114-6

Ellefson, M. R., Brinker, R. A., Vernacchio, V. J., & Schunn, C. D. (2008). Design-based learning for biology: Genetic engineering experience improves understanding of gene expression. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 36, 292-298. https://doi.org/10.1002/BMB.20203

Ellefson, M. R., Shapiro, L. R., & Chater, N. (2006). Asymmetrical switch costs in children. Cognitive Development, 21, 108-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COGDEV.2006.01.002

Christiansen, M. H., Conway, C. M., & Ellefson, M. R. (2002). Raising the bar for connectionist modeling of developmental disorders. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 25, 752-753. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X02230137

Books and Book Chapters

Apedoe, X. S., Ellefson, M. R., & Schunn, C. D. (2021). Supporting conceptual change in chemistry through design-based learning: The heating/cooling system unit. In I. Henze and M. J. de Vries (Eds.) Design-based concept learning in science and technology education. Brill (pp. 49-74). https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004450004_004

Christiansen, M. H., & Ellefson, M. R. (2002). Linguistic adaptation without linguistic constraints: The role of sequential learning in language evolution. In A. Wray (Ed.), The transition to language: Studies in the evolution of language (pp. 335-358). Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. [Chapter selected by peer review].

Ellefson, M. R. (1996). Someone I love has cancer: An interactive workbook for children whose loved ones have cancer. American Cancer Society, Minnesota Division, Minneapolis, MN.