Assessment of the validity of a Computerised Assessment Technique compared with equivalent paper and pencil tests on executive functions in 7-9 yr old children

The aim of the study was to assess the concurrent and predictive validity of a Computerised Assessment Technique (CAT) of the central executive component of working memory in 7-9 yr. old children. CANTAB eclipseTM is a psychometric instrument which facilitates the computerised assessment of cognitive functions. Five out of twenty two CANTAB tests, with their paper pencil (p&p) equivalents, were used to assess the concurrent validity of a CAT. The predictive validity of the CAT and p&p tests were assessed against the school achievements of the children on reading, writing and maths. A correlational design was used to test both concurrent and predictive validity. Overall 21 children (aged m=8.29, SD=0.64) were tested. Six out of the 21 children had Special Educational Needs (SEN) secondments. All participants completed both presentation modes of the tests. No significant differences were found between the SEN and non-SEN children on all of the tests. Results showed that only the Intra/Extradimentional set shift (IED- a CAT) and Wisconsin Card sorting task (WISC- a p&p) were significantly correlated. When the CAT and p&p tests were compared to the children’s school performance on reading, writing and maths, the IED was found to be significantly correlated to the writing performance of the children. A correlation of the WISC and children’s maths performance was close to significance. In conclusion, the results indicated that the CAT was a valid measure of executive functioning in some cases.