1-197 - Assessment and Development of Executive Function in Early Childhood

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The term Executive Function (EF) denotes cognitive processes involved in self-regulation including inhibitory control, working memory or updating and shifting processes. Research indicates that EF develops rapidly during the preschool years, is positively related to academic achievement and that there are cultural differences in components of EF. The present symposium examines different assessment tools and also the impact of EF on school readiness and academic outcomes in more depth.
The four papers examine EF development in Asia (China and Hongkong) and Europe (Germany). The first presentation is concerned with the impact of both hot and cold EF and their contribution to the prediction of development; results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses reveal distinct but correlated function. The second paper evaluates the predictive power of kindergarten teachers’ ratings vs. direct assessment of EF and emphasizes the importance of direct measures. Furthermore, the third contribution makes clear that the influence of EF on early achievement is mediated by approaches to learning. Finally, the last presentation discusses possible advantages of bilingualism in children for EF and does not find them in a German sample. Taken together the symposium indicates that the relation between EF and several aspects of cognition and academic achievement is far more complex than previously acknowledged.

Sub Unit

• Cognitive Processes

Chairs

• Claudia Maehler, University of Hildesheim

• Nirmala Rao, Hong Kong University

Individual Presentations

• Cognitive and Emotional Self-Regulation Predict Early Achievement in Chinese Preschoolers - Presenting Author: Jin Sun, The Education University of Hong Kong; Non-Presenting Author: Rong Kang, The Education University of Hong Kong; Non-Presenting Author: Patrick Ip, The University of Hongkong; Non-Presenting Author: Nirmala Rao, Hong Kong University

• Behavior Ratings and Direct Assessment of Executive Function as Predictors for Later Academic Achievement - Presenting Author: Katharina Thieken, University of Hildesheim; Non-Presenting Author: Claudia Maehler, University of Hildesheim

• Executive Function, Approaches to Learning and Early Achievement in Chinese Children - Presenting Author: Li Zhang, East China Normal University; Non-Presenting Author: Nirmala Rao, Hong Kong University

• Examination of the Bilingual Advantage in the Executive Function of German Preschool Children - Presenting Author: Sina Simone Huschka, German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF); Non-Presenting Author: Janin Brandenburg, German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF); Non-Presenting Author: Jan Henning Ehm, German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF); Non-Presenting Author: Marcus Hasselhorn, German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF)