Executive functions of the frontal lobes: psychometric properties of a self-rating scale

Psychol Rep. 1995 Aug;77(1):24-6. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1995.77.1.24.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / injuries
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / physiopathology
  • Head Injuries, Closed / psychology
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Problem Solving / physiology*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results