Interpreting executive and lower-order error scores on the timed subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) battery: Error analysis across the adult lifespan.
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol
; 42(10): 982-997, 2020 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33267731
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) is a battery of tests designed to measure executive functions (EF). Additionally, the D-KEFS contains lower-order tasks, designed to control for speed of visual scanning, sequencing, and verbal and graphomotor output. The construct and criterion validities of D-KEFS scores that are time-based are well established. However, the constructs measured by the D-KEFS error scores are poorly understood, making clinical interpretations of such scores difficult. This study examined the construct validity of D-KEFS errors committed on EF tasks and tasks designed to measure lower-order processes (i.e., non-EF tasks), across the adult lifespan.METHOD:
Participants were 427 adults (18-93 years) who completed the timed subtests of the D-KEFS. Four hundred two participants also completed the Push-Turn-Taptap (PTT; a separate measure of EF) to allow cross-validation.RESULTS:
General linear regressions showed that D-KEFS errors committed on the EF tests were associated with EF timed performance (assessed using the D-KEFS time-based scores and the PTT), but only among older adults. Importantly, errors committed on the D-KEFS tasks of lower-order processes were also associated with D-KEFS time-based EF performance, and this relationship held across the adult lifespan.CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that among older adults EF errors on the D-KEFS can be interpreted as indices of EF, but such interpretations are not automatically warranted for younger adults. Additionally, errors committed on non-EF tasks contained within the D-KEFS battery can be interpreted as reflecting EF weaknesses across the adult lifespan.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Psychometrics
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Psychomotor Performance
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Executive Function
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Neuropsychological Tests
Limits:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article