Differences in Attention Levels between Preliminary Nurses and Pre- Service Early Childhood Teachers Using ANT (Attentional Network Test) Computer Test

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze attentional network test (ANT) and to examine the difference of
attention level according to the types of brain dominance between nursing college students and preservice
early childhood teachers. The subjects of this study were 79 students in 3rd and 4th grades attending nursing
department and early childhood education department of U university. Herrmann’s BDI was used to measure
the type of brain dominance and Ant (attentional network test) computer test was performed to measure the
level of attention. The data were analyzed by independent t-test to determine differences in brain dominance
and attentional level between preliminary nurse and pre-service early childhood teacher and to analyze
differences in attention level according to types of brain dominance. The results of this study were as follows:
First, there was no significant difference between the two groups in A, B, and C quadrants. In quadrant D,
the pre - early childhood teacher’s quadratic thinking score was significantly higher than preliminary nurse
quadrant, respectively. Second, there was no significant difference between preliminary nurses and pre –
service early childhood teachers in the level of alerting and executive control. At the level of orienting, the
preliminary nurse’s orienting score was significantly higher than the pre-service early childhood teacher’s
orienting score. Third, alerting effect attention was not significantly different according to the type of brain
dominance, but orienting was highest in students in the quadrant A, and executive control was highest in
students in quadrant D quadrant burnt.