Summary of Common Examination Methods for Evaluating Executive Functions in Leadership Positions
Assessing Executive Functioning: A Comprehensive Guide
Executive functioning (EF) is a crucial aspect of cognitive ability that encompasses a range of skills, including attention, inhibitory control, planning, emotion regulation, initiation, self-monitoring, flexibility, organization, and working memory. These skills are essential for success in various aspects of life, from academic performance to social interaction.
Several standardized tools are available to help understand a person's EF strengths and needs. One of the most widely used is the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), a questionnaire designed for parents and teachers to evaluate EF-related behaviors in children across home and school settings. The BRIEF covers eight areas: inhibition, shifting, emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning/organization, organization of materials, and monitoring. It provides a Global Executive Composite score indicating overall difficulties in executive function.
For adults, there's the BRIEF-A (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult version), which evaluates executive functions in adults through self-report and informant-report forms.
In addition to these behavioral rating scales, various cognitive performance tasks are used to measure specific EF components. For instance, the Stroop Task assesses cognitive flexibility and inhibition control, while the Go/No-Go Task and Stop-Signal Task measure response inhibition. The Trail Making Test evaluates set-shifting and mental flexibility, and the N-back Task assesses working memory.
These tasks, often used in research and clinical settings, have been validated for adolescents and adults. There are also computerized EF assessments, such as "Freeze Frame", designed for online administration, measuring inhibitory control and overall EF with good reliability and brief administration time.
The Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI), created by Jack A. Naglieri and Sam Goldstein, is another tool used to measure EF skills in children and teens aged 5 to 18 years old. There's also a self-report version for learners between 12 and 18 years old. The CEFI measures nine areas of executive function.
For performance-based EF tasks, the TEA-Ch2 and its adult counterpart, the TEA, are commonly used. The TEA-Ch2 measures different parts of a child's attention, including selective attention, sustained attention, and switching attention, and is used with learners aged 5 to 15 years. The TEA measures the same skills as the TEA-Ch2, but is used for older learners who are between the ages of 18 and 80.
The NEPSY-II includes 32 different subtests and four delayed tasks to assess six different areas of thinking and learning. It was created to assess Attention and Executive Functioning, Language, Memory and Learning, Social Perception, Sensorimotor Skills, and Visuospatial Processing.
Lastly, the D-KEFS, created by Dean Delis, Edith Kaplan, and Joel Kramer, measures various executive functioning skills in children and adults aged 8 to 89. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), developed by David Grant and Esta Berg, assesses cognitive flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to adapt based on feedback.
It's important to note that while these standardized tools provide valuable insights into EF, other factors such as stress, sleep, and socio-cultural influences can also impact executive function and should be considered during assessments.
For school staff, the Life Skills Advocate offers a free executive functioning assessment, which is a helpful tool to track a student's progress on executive functioning goals over time.
In conclusion, a combination of behavioral rating scales, self-reports, and laboratory or computerized cognitive tasks offers a comprehensive assessment of executive functioning across the lifespan. The BRIEF and BRIEF-A stand out for their broad clinical use and normative data for different age groups.
Life skills, such as time management and personal growth, are vital for integrating executive functioning skills into real-life situations and fostering long-term success in education-and-self-development. Continuous learning and application of these skills are essential for personal growth and improvement of executive functioning.
For educators aiming to assess executive functioning effectively, the Life Skills Advocate's free executive functioning assessment provides valuable insights into a student's progress in executive functioning goals over time, helping to create a more well-rounded understanding of each student's needs.
