Use of Elementary Cognitive Tasks to Perceive Executive Functioning Ability
Mentor 1
David Osmon
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 10:30 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 11:45 AM
Description
Elementary cognitive tasks (ECTs) to assess perceptual-motor processes and executive functions (EF) offer several advantages: a precise definition of EF, a clear differentiation between non-EF and EF abilities, levels of complexity according to bits of information, and a mathematical model using a ratio level of measurement among others. This study tested the concurrent validity of four ECTs (0- & 1-bit non-EF tasks and 1-bit & 2-bit EF tasks) by examining their relationship with nine subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System that constitute three EF factors: Switching, Updating, and Inhibition. Tasks were administered to 133 undergraduates (mean=22.08, SD=4.40), and the three EF factors were used to predict performance on the ECTs. For both the 0-bit and 1-bit non-EF tasks, only Switching was predictive (Radj2=.06 & .15, p<.005 & .01, respectively). For the 1-bit EF task, both Updating and Inhibition were predictive, although Updating predominated (Importance=.767 & .233, respectively; Radj2=.16, p<.005 & .01, respectively). Contrarily, for the 2-bit EF task, Inhibition predominated compared to Updating (Importance=.699 & .301, respectively; Radj2= .19, p<.0001 & .02, respectively). Results are discussed in terms of Miyake et al.’s (2012) unity/diversity framework of EF as well as other studies using latent variable analysis.
Use of Elementary Cognitive Tasks to Perceive Executive Functioning Ability
Union Wisconsin Room
Elementary cognitive tasks (ECTs) to assess perceptual-motor processes and executive functions (EF) offer several advantages: a precise definition of EF, a clear differentiation between non-EF and EF abilities, levels of complexity according to bits of information, and a mathematical model using a ratio level of measurement among others. This study tested the concurrent validity of four ECTs (0- & 1-bit non-EF tasks and 1-bit & 2-bit EF tasks) by examining their relationship with nine subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System that constitute three EF factors: Switching, Updating, and Inhibition. Tasks were administered to 133 undergraduates (mean=22.08, SD=4.40), and the three EF factors were used to predict performance on the ECTs. For both the 0-bit and 1-bit non-EF tasks, only Switching was predictive (Radj2=.06 & .15, p<.005 & .01, respectively). For the 1-bit EF task, both Updating and Inhibition were predictive, although Updating predominated (Importance=.767 & .233, respectively; Radj2=.16, p<.005 & .01, respectively). Contrarily, for the 2-bit EF task, Inhibition predominated compared to Updating (Importance=.699 & .301, respectively; Radj2= .19, p<.0001 & .02, respectively). Results are discussed in terms of Miyake et al.’s (2012) unity/diversity framework of EF as well as other studies using latent variable analysis.
