Measures of executive function may not be indicators of latent constructs.

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101468753 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1748-6653 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17486645 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Neuropsychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2011- : Chichester : Wiley-Blackwell
Original Publication: Leicester : British Psychological Society, c2007-

Executive Function*/physiology ; Neuropsychological Tests*; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology ; Inhibition, Psychological

Executive function (EF) is represented by a multidimensional set of measures. The central EFs considered are inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility (task shifting). Unlike other ability constructs, it has proven difficult to identify latent factors that underlie EF. Research has often taken a factor analytic approach for grouping executive functioning tasks. However, this approach has often proven unsuccessful. We aimed to compare factor analysis to a network analytic approach, as network analysis can summarize the pattern of relationships among elements without creating latent constructs. One hundred and thirteen undergraduate students completed a series of nine executive functioning tasks. In comparing exploratory factor analysis to network analysis, we found neither approach provided a compelling higher order grouping of EF measures.
(© 2024 The British Psychological Society.)

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Keywords: executive function; factor analysis; network analysis

Date Created: 20240130 Date Completed: 20241118 Latest Revision: 20241118

20250114

10.1111/jnp.12363

38291553