The Relation Between Executive Function and Inference Making

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: New Directions in Literacy Research

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between executive function (EF) and inference making in young children (Grades 1 and 2). This analysis focuses on the relation of the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS, Carlson & Zelazo, 2014) to a recently developed, fully-automated, computer based measure of inferencing called TeLCI Assessment. These findings suggest that EF plays a role in inference making in young children, but only when the task poses increased demands on EF. Specifically, EF predicted performance on inference making, but only for the difficult inference assessment. In the case of the easy inference assessment, no relation was obtained.

Authors

• Reese Butterfuss, Arizona State University

• Britta Bresina, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Kyle Wagner, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Panayiota Kendeou, University of Minnesota

• Kristen L. McMaster, University of Minnesota