Reliability and stability of executive functioning in older adults.
A number of methodological questions have been raised about the reliability and validity of measuring executive functioning (EF) across multiple time points. In this study, correlational and latent-variable analyses were used to examine test-retest reliability of 5 common measures of EF and the stability of a latent EF construct. One hundred eighteen nondemented older adults were tested twice over a 4- to 8-week period. Findings demonstrated modest reliability of individual EF measures but very high stability of a latent EF construct. Relative contributions of each measure to the latent EF factor did not change across measurement trials. In addition, age-related effects on EF were similar at the 2 time points and were within the expected range. Implications for future studies of EF are discussed.
Ettenhofer
Mark L
ML
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, MI, USA. ettenho1@msu.edu
Hambrick
David Z
DZ
Abeles
Norman
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results