John Thornton

Defense Date

3-2-2011

Graduation Date

Spring 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

School Psychology

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Jeffrey A. Miller

Committee Member

Sharon Arffa

Committee Member

Ara J Schmitt

Keywords

Development, Executive functions, Frontal lobe, Psychometrics

Abstract

Executive functions include the ability of inhibiting responses, goal formation, planning, carrying out goal-directed plans, and effective performance (Jurado & Roselli, 2007). This study presents the findings of statistical analyses that were conducted to examine this study's five research questions related to the Executive Control Battery (ECB; Goldberg, Bilder, Jaeger, & Podell, 2000). The ECB is a neuropsychological battery designed to assess executive deficits based on theoretical approaches developed by Alexander Luria and Elkhonon Goldberg. The primary objective of the research study is to examine normative data of the ECB and its four respective subtests in children. This was accomplished by determining adequate variance on the four ECB subtests and examining descriptive statistics. Reliability data was examined through both internal consistency and inter-rater reliability analyses. Finally, convergent and divergent validity was explored as ECB subtests were compared to other measures of EF (Stroop, WCST) as well as non-EF measures (WISC-III, WRAT-R) via multiple regression analysis. Results indicate that the ECB demonstrates adequate variance when administered to a sample of children. The ECB was found to be a reliable measure, as internal consistency was adequate on the four subsets and agreement among raters was established on the Graphical Sequences test. Convergent validity analysis, via multiple regression, indicated that Stroop Color Word Standard Score significantly explained Graphical Sequence Errors, and WCST Perseverative Errors Scaled moderately explained Motor Sequences Errors. Predictive validity did not produce a significant relationship between the ECB subtests and IQ. However, the Motor Sequences test was found to significantly predict WRAT-R Arithmetic performance. Implications of these findings and recommendations for future research were discussed.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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