Ecologically valid measure of executive function for children with ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validating a new ecologically valid measure of executive functioning for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
IRAS ID
170531
Contact name
Jodie Pullinger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2015/03/156, UCL Data Protection Registration; 15PP10, GOSH R&D Reference Number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Various accounts of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exist. This study focuses on the executive dysfunction theory of ASD, which accounts for ASD in terms of impaired executive functioning (EF). This term refers to a set of higher-level cognitive skills including planning, flexibility, inhibition, impulse control and working memory.
EF in ASD has been extensively researched but with mixed results. Some studies report impaired performance in ASD individuals in tasks assessing EF but there are numerous disparities between findings with some failing to detect any deficits. This is problematic; firstly in terms of the executive dysfunction theory of ASD as one would expect universal impairments. Secondly, research findings appear not to correspond with anecdotal evidence procured from clinicians, teachers and families. Compared with data from standardised tasks, these accounts paint a clear picture of EF in ASD, typically identifying various deficits that create difficulties in daily life. Similarly, questionnaire-based measures also more consistently detect deficits compared to structured tests of EF.
It is now thought that these discrepancies can be partly accounted for by the limitations of measures traditionally used in this research, particularly in terms of their ecological validity. Ecological validity relates to the extent to which a measure accurately predicts difficulties experienced in real-life and therefore arguably how clinically useful it is. The view that EF deficits are best observed through using more ecologically valid measures is now widely shared. However, existing ecologically valid EF tests have their own limitations e.g. the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in Children (BADS-C) has low test-retest reliability.
The aims of the current study are to validate a newly developed measure of EF that:
• Is ecologically valid
• Has been created especially for children with ASD
• Improves on test-retest reliability of existing measures
• Correlates with measures of everyday functioning in ASDREC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1332
Date of REC Opinion
21 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion