A - Italy - Does chess training affect meta-cognitive process and academic performance? Expand Meloni & Fanari (2021), “Does chess training affect meta-cognitive process and academic performance?” Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age. This study compared the results of two groups of children, one which had taken place in a 30-hour chess programme, the other in a 30-hour programme of physical sports. The results showed a significant gain in mathematical solving ability for the children in the chess programme.
B - Italy - Does chess playing improve math learning? Expand Boruch (2011), “Does chess playing improve math learning? Promising (and inexpensive) results from Italy”, Educ 680, University of Pennsylvania. This study looked at the effect of a 30-week chess intervention on Y4-aged children in Italy. The results showed that achievement in mathematics improved by one third of a standard deviation. It also suggested that children with lower prior attainment showed a greater improvement than those of higher prior ability.
C - Denmark - Your move: the effects of chess on mathematics test scores Expand Kamilla Gumede and Michael Rosholm (2015), “Your Move: The Effect of Chess on Mathematics Test Scores” Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit, IZA DP No. 9370, September 2015. This study looked at the effect of replacing one mathematics lesson per week with a chess lesson for a group of Y4 children. It demonstrated that this led to positive results in the children’s performance in mathematics tests. A subsequent study in 2017 suggested that the chess programme had most effect on those children who were struggling to engage with their normal mathematics learning; the chess lessons gave them an alternative learning route.
D - Spain - Efficacy of chess training for the treatment of ADHD Expand Blasco-Fontecilla, Gonzalez-Perez, Garcia-Lopez, Poza-Cano, Perez-Moreno, Leon-Martinez, Otero-Perez (2014). “Efficacy of chess training for the treatment of ADHD: A prospective, open label study.” Revista de Psiquiatria y Salud Mental. This study examined the effect of a chess training programme on 44 children with a primary diagnosis of ADHD. It found that the chess training was an effective treatment for ADHD, with children with a high IQ benefitting most. The efficacy of the programme exceeded that of some of the commonly-used clinical treatments, without any of the negative side effect.
E - USA - The effect of chess on standardized test score gains Expand David I. Poston and Kathryn K. Vandenkieboom (2019), “The Effect of Chess on Standardized Test Score Gains”. SAGE Open. This study looked at children who played competitive chess. It found that this led to substantially improved attainment in mathematics tests.
F - Spain - The benefits of chess for the intellectual and social-emotional enrichment in schoolchildren Expand Aciego R. et al (2012), “The Benefits of Chess for the Intellectual and Social-Emotional Enrichment in Schoolchildren”. The Spanish Journal of Psychology. This study showed that chess can improve cognitive abilities, coping and problem-solving capacity, and the social development of children.
G - Romania - Cognitive benefits of chess training in novice children Expand Gliga F. and Flesner P.I. (2014), “Cognitive Benefits of Chess Training in Novice Children” Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 116 (2014) 962 – 967. This study compared the effect of a mathematicsprogramme with one which consisted of a blend of mathematics and chess. The chess group showed a significantly greater improvement in their school performance tests.
H - USA - The Alabama Chess in Schools Programme Expand Chitiyo, Zagumny, Akenson, Littrell, Davis, Besnoy, (2019). “The Alabama Chess in Schools Programme.” University of Alabama. January 2019. This large study looked at the academic achievement of children in the Alabama Chess in Schools Programme. It showed that children in the intervention group in the lower grades (aged 9-11) achieved noticeably higher academic scores than those in the control group. This included gains in Affective Decision & Judgment Processes, Systems Thinking, Cross-Disciplinary Thinking, and Overall Engagement. The majority of teachers felt their students benefited socially (81%) and academically (73%) from the use of chess in instruction. 71% of the teachers enjoyed teaching through chess.
I - India - Malleability of working memory through chess in schoolchildren Expand Joseph, Easvaradoss, Abraham, Vaddadi, (2020), “Malleability of Working Memory Through Chess in Schoolchildren— A Two-Year Intervention Study”. This study demonstrated that when systematic chess training with proper curriculum is offered, a significant gain in working memory can result, with significant educational benefits for children.
J - UK - Chess development in Aberdeen’s primary schools: A study of literacy and social capital Expand Forrest, D., Davidson, I., Shucksmith, J., & Glendinning, T. (2005). “Chess development in Aberdeen’s primary schools: A study of literacy and social capital.” University of Aberdeen. This study showed positive effects of learning chess on comprehension and arithmetic skills. It also showed positive social benefits, particularly for those children identified as exhibiting poor behaviour.
K - Germany - Impact of chess training on mathematics performance and concentration ability of children with learning disabilities. Expand Markus Scholz et al, (2008). “Impact of chess training on mathematics performance and concentration ability of children with learning disabilities.” International Journal Of Special Education Vol 23 No 3 2008. This study offered children with learning difficulties a 1-year package of chess lessons in school. These children showed a significant improvement in simple addition and counting tasks compared with a control group.
L - Lebanon - The effect of playing chess on the concentration of ADHD students in the 2nd cycle. Expand EdDaou, Ed-Shamieh, (2015). “The effect of playing chess on the concentration of ADHD students in the 2nd cycle”, Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, 192, 2015. This study examined the effect of playing regular chess on a group of children, aged 11-13, with ADHD. The study showed a significant increase in the length of time for which children could focus on a particular task before disruptive behaviour began, suggesting an improvement in self-regulation.
M - Canada - Early lessons in social skills and self-control bring lifelong benefits Expand Vitaro, Tremblay, Park, Cote, Beasley, Algan (2022). "Early lessons in social skills and self-control bring lifelong benefits" Centre for Economic Policy Research, 2022. This long-term study followed a group of boys with behavioural problems who were given social skills training in the 1980s. A recent follow-up showed that this programme led to a cascade of lifelong effects: one dollar invested in this programme at age 8 led to an estimated $11 in benefits at age 39.