A study conducted in Turkey assessed the validity and reliability of the Executive Functions Scale (EFSS), developed for children aged 60 to 72 months. Executive functions, including working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, play a key role in academic, social and behavioural development in early childhood. The scale is intended to provide a practical tool for assessing these skills and monitoring the effectiveness of developmental programmes.
Study methodology
The study involved 516 children attending preschools in Turkey. To establish the scale’s content validity, 11 experts were consulted, yielding a content validity index of 0,89. Exploratory (n=172) and confirmatory (n=344) factor analyses were used to test construct validity. The scale’s reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients.
Results and conclusions
The analysis showed that the EFSS consists of three subscales—working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control—and includes 23 items. The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good model fit (CMIN/DF = 1,48, GFI = 0,926, AGFI = 0,906, CFI = 0,945, IFI = 0,946, TLI = 0,936, RMSEA = 0,037). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the subscales were 0,820 for working memory, 0,711 for cognitive flexibility and 0,715 for inhibitory control. These findings indicate that the EFSS has acceptable validity and reliability for assessing executive functions in children aged 60–72 months.
The researchers note that the EFSS can serve as a practical tool for assessing executive functions in early childhood and tracking the effectiveness of intervention programmes. However, because the sample consisted exclusively of children attending independent preschools in a particular region, the findings may have limited generalisability to other age groups and cultural contexts.
