How was attentional focus assessed in Andrade's study?

• A. By measuring the duration of participants' gaze
• B. Through the accuracy of participants' recall of information
• C. Via direct observation of behavior during tasks
• D. By asking participants to self-report their focus

Answer: (B)

In Andrade's study, the assessment of attentional focus was effectively accomplished through the accuracy of participants' recall of information. This method is particularly valuable because it provides an objective measure of how well participants were able to retain and retrieve information following a task. By analyzing how accurately participants recalled details after the doodling activity, the research could infer the impact of doodling on attention and memory retention. This approach is significant in understanding whether doodling helps maintain attention to the material being presented, ultimately allowing for a clearer connection between the act of doodling and cognitive processing.

Although other assessment methods like measuring gaze duration or direct observation could provide insights into attentional focus, Andrade specifically linked the act of doodling to improved memory recall, making recall accuracy a more pertinent focus for her study's conclusions regarding attentional engagement.