title: Executive functions of the frontal lobes: psychometric properties of a self-rating scale.
abstract: This study investigated the psychometric properties of a self-rating scale designed to test the executive functions of the frontal lobes. A set of 16 items was selected, based on face validity, from the 200-item Coolidge Axis II Inventory. Cronbach scale reliability for the new scale was .72 on 1,223 purportedly normal participants. A factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure, Decision-making difficulties (8 items, 23% of the variance, scale reliability .77), Poor planning (4 items, 15% of the variance, scale reliability .63), and Task incompletion (6 items, 9% of the variance, scale reliability .66). A multivariate analysis of variance, performed on the overall scale sum and the three subscales, between 17 closed head-injured patients and a matched control group was significant. The head-injured patients scored significantly higher on the over-all measure of executive dysfunction and higher on the decision-making difficulties subscale but not on the other two subscales.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 80933-7150, USA.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Coolidge
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Griego
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results