The developers of Mind Lab, are engaged in joint research projects with Professor Don Green from Yale University (USA).

A recent study by professor Don Green of Yale University (Green & Gendelman. 2003) examined whether the analogy-based teaching approach used by Mind Lab improves strategic reasoning and problem solving skills. The research indicated that the children who were exposed to Mind Lab demonstrated a substantial and statistically significant improvement in these skills in comparison with the control group who had not been exposed to Mind Lab.

Strategic reasoning and problem solving test

The research also indicated that Mind Lab had a lasting effect and that the children could apply their new skills in other areas. Additional research conducted in the weeks following the original study involved presenting the two groups with new problems to solve. The improved performance of the Mind Lab group in comparison with the control group was even greater than in the original study.

According to a new study from Yale University (Green & Gendelman. 2004) the Mind Lab method significantly improves children's performance on standardised maths, verbal and problem solving tests.

Standardised problem solving test

Standardised verbal test

Full Research Reports:

Can a Curriculum that Teaches Abstract Reasoning Skills Improve Standardized Test Scores?
Donald Green, Yale University
Dan Gendelman
August 23, 2004
 

Teaching Children to Think Strategically: Results from a Randomized Experiment
Donald Green, Yale University
Dan Gendelman
November 15, 2003
 

University College London research published in 2003 found that those who regularly engaged in logic and memory games such as cards, chess and backgammon performed better on short-term memory, mathematical reasoning and vocabulary tests than those who did not.

According to Ofsted head David Bell (Daily Mail 31/01/05) children whose parents play traditional board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly and Cluedo with them do better at school. He said the games helped children grasp skills such as learning to think for themselves, to wait their turn and to hold a conversation with adults. Mr Bell is concerned that computer games and television discourage children from activities that better stimulate their imagination.