ERIC Number: EJ933853
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Verbal Ability and Executive Functioning Development in Preschoolers at Head Start
Fuhs, Mary Wagner; Day, Jeanne D.
Developmental Psychology, v47 n2 p404-416 Mar 2011
Research suggests that executive functioning skills may enhance the school readiness of children from disadvantaged homes. Questions remain, however, concerning both the structure and the stability of executive functioning among preschoolers. In addition, there is a lack of research addressing potential predictors of longitudinal change in executive functioning during early childhood. This study examined the structure of executive functioning from fall to spring of the preschool year using a multimethod battery of measures. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a unidimensional model fit the data well at both time points, and tests of measurement invariance across time points indicated that children's mean latent executive functioning scores significantly improved over time. Verbal ability was a significant predictor of longitudinal change in executive functioning. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are discussed. (Contains 2 figures, 5 tables, and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: School Readiness, Disadvantaged Youth, Memory, Verbal Ability, Preschool Children, Cognitive Ability, Predictor Variables, Measures (Individuals), Factor Analysis, Child Development, Correlation
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
