Relationship between executive functions and academic performance in psychology students
Keywords:
Executive functions, Inhibitory control, Working memory, Cognitive flexibility, Academic performanceAbstract
Executive Functions (EF) (Working Memory, Inhibitory Control, and Cognitive Flexibility) have been associated with Academic Performance (AP). A non-experimental, correlational study was conducted to analyze the predictive relationship between EF and AP in 185 psychology students, selected through a non-probabilistic sampling. The following evaluation applications were utilized: Continuous Attention Test, Visuospatial memory test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Variant, Stroop Effect - Colors Game. The results showed a direct positive effect of working memory and inhibitory control and a negative effect of cognitive flexibility on AP. It might be concluded that EF have a low level of prediction on AP.
References
Ali, S., Haider, Z., Munir, F., Khan, H., & Ahmed, A. (2013). Factors Contributing to the Students Academic Performance: A Case Study of Islamia University Sub-Campus. American Journal of Educational Research, 1(8), 283-289. Doi: 10.12691/education-1-8-3.
Amador, J., Krieger, V. (2013). TDAH, funciones ejecutivas y atención. Universidad de Barcelona.
Baddeley, A.D., & Hitch, G.J. (1974). Working memory. In BGA Editor (Ed.), The psychology of learning and cognition (pp. 1-13). Academic Press.
Baggetta, P., Alexander, P.A. (2016). Conceptualization and Operationalization of Executive Function. International Mind, Brain, and Education Society and Wiley Periodicals, 10(1), 10–33. Doi:10.1111/mbe.12100
Ball, K. K., Wadley, V.G., Vance, D.E., & Edwards, J.D. (2004). Cognitive skills: training, maintenance and daily usage. In SCD Editor (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology (pp. 387-392). Elsevier Academic Press.
Barceló, E., Lewis, S., & Moreno, M. (2006). Funciones ejecutivas en estudiantes universitarios que presentan bajo y alto rendimiento académico. Psicología desde el Caribe, (18), 109-138.
Besserra-Lagos, D., Lepe-Martínez, N., & Ramos-Galarza, C. (2018). Las Funciones Ejecutivas Del Lóbulo Frontal Y Su Asociación Con El Desempeño Académico De Estudiantes De Nivel Superior. Revista Ecuatoriana de Neurología, 27(3), 51-56.
Bjorklund, D.F., & Harnishfeger, K.K. (1995). The evolution of inhibition mechanisms and their role in human cognition and behavior. In D.F.N., & B.C.J., Editor (Eds.), Interference and inhibition in cognition (pp. 142-169). Academic Press.
Casas-Ortiz, S. (2013). Relación entre las Funciones Ejecutivas y el Rendimiento Académico en la educación de Adultos. [Tesis de Máster, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja]. https://reunir.unir.net/bitstream/handle/123456789/1982/2013_07_23_TFM_ESTUDIO_DEL_TRABAJO.pdf?sequence=1%26isAllowed=y.
Castillo-Parra, G., Gómez, E., & Ostrosky-Solis, F. (2009). Relación entre las funciones ejecutivas y nivel de rendimiento académico en niños. Revista Neuropsicología, Neuropsiquiatría y Neurociencias, 1, 41-54. Doi: 10.17151/hpsal.2016.21.2.4.
Conners, C.K. (2004). Conners` Continuous Performance Test (CPT II). Version 5 for Window, Technical Guide and Software Manual. Multi-Health Systemes Inc.
Corsi, P.M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain. McGill University.
Dubuc, M.M., Aubertin-Leheudre, M., & Karelis, A.D. (2020). Relationship between interference control and working memory with academic performance in high school students: The Adolescent Student Academic Performance longitudinal study (ASAP). Journal of Adolescence, 80, 204-213. Doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.03.001
Edwards, J.D., Delahunt, P.B., Mahncke, H.W. (2009). Cognitive speed of processing delays driving cessation. J Gerontol A Sci Med Sci, 64, 1262-67. Doi: 10.1093/gerona/glp131.
Espy, K., McDiarmid, M., Cwik, M., Stalets, M., Hamby, A., & Senn, T. (2004). The contribution of executive functions to emergent mathematics skills in preschool children. Developmental Neuropsychology, 26, 465-486. Doi: 10.1207/s15326942dn2601_6.
Gardner, J.K. (2009). Conceptualizing the Relations between Executive Functions and Self-Regulated Learning. J Psychol, 143 (4), 405–426. Doi: 10.3200/JRLP.143.4.405-426.
Graham, S. (1997). Executive Control in the Revising of Students with Learning and Writing Difficulties. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89, 223-234. Doi:10.1037/0022-0663.89.2.223
Grant, D.A., & Berg, E.A. (1948). A behavioral analysis of degree of reinforcement and ease of shifting to new responses in a Weigl-type card-sorting problem. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38(4), 404-411. Doi: 10.1037/h0059831.
Gutiérrez-Ruiz, K., Paternina, J., Zakzuk, S., Méndez, S., Castillo, A., Payares, L., Peñate, A. (2020). Las funciones ejecutivas como predictoras del rendimiento académico de estudiantes universitarios. Psychology, Society & Education, 12 (3), 161-174. Doi:10.25115/psye.v12i3.2103.
Kail, R., Salthouse, T.A. (1994). Processing speed as a mental capacity. Acta Psychol, 86, 199-225. Doi: 10.1016/0001-6918(94)90003-5.
Lezak, M. (2004). Executive Functions and Motor Performance. In M.D., Lezak, D.B., Howieson & D.W., Loring (Eds), Neuropsychological Assessment (4th ed., pp. 611–646). Oxford University Press.
May, R.W., Bauer, K.N., Fincham, F.D. (2015). School burnout: Diminished academic and cognitive performance. Learning and Individual Differences, 42, 126-131. Doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2015.07.015.
Mclean, K., & Hitch, J. (2001). Executive functions in student with and without mathematics disorder. J. Learn. Disabil., 30, 214–225.
Metatrans Apps SA. (2020). Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) Variant: Cards. [mobile app]. Google Play. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wisconsin&hl=es_419.
Mirmehdi, R., Alizadeh, H., & Seifnaraghi, M. (2009). The efficacy of executive functions training on mathematics and reading performance of children with learning disabilities. J. Res. Except. Child, 1, 1–12.
Miyake, A., & Friedman, N. P. (2012). The nature and organization of individual differences in executive functions: Four general conclusions. Current Directions in Psychological Science 21(1), 8–14. Doi: 10.1177/0963721411429458.
Miyake, A., Friedman, N.P., Emerson, M.J., Witzki, A.H., Howerter, A. & Wager, T.D. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “Frontal Lobe” tasks: a latent variable analysis. Cognitive Psychology, 41(1), 49-100. Doi: 10.1006/cogp.1999.0734.
Mokhtar, M., & Aghababaei, S. (2013). The effect of executive functions training on the rate of executive functions and academic performance of students with learning disability. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 59, 145-155. Doi:10.1179/2047387712Y.0000000004.
Moore, R.C., Swendsen, J., Depp, C.A. (2017). Applications for self-administered mobile cognitive assessments in clinical research: A systematic review. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res, 26(4). Doi: 10.1002/mpr.1562. Epub 2017 Mar 31.
Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group. (2019). Test de Atención Continua. [mobile app]. Google Play. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.NRHB.CAT&hl=es_419.
Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group. (2019). Test de Memoria Visuoespacial. [mobile app]. Google Play. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.NRHB.SST&hl=es.
Pérez, K. (2019). Influencia de la función ejecutiva en el rendimiento académico de estudiantes universitarios. Caso Fundación Universitaria Tecnológico Comfenalco. Revista Espacios, 40 (8), 1-7.
Petersen, R., Lavelle, E., Guarino, A.J. (2006). The Relationship Between College Students’ Executive Functioning and Study Strategies. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 36 (2), 59-67. Doi:10.1080/10790195.2006.10850188.
Pineda, D.A., Merchán, V., Rosselli, M., Ardila, A. (2000). [Factorial structure of the executive functions in young university students]. Rev Neurol,16-31;31(12):1112-1118.
Prosen, S., & Vitulić, H. (2014). Executive function in different groups of university students. Review of Psychology, 21(2),137-143.
Rial, A., Varela, J., Abalo, J., & Lévy, J. (2006). El Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio. In J.P., Lévy & J., Varela (Eds.), Modelización con estructuras de covarianza en ciencias sociales. Temas esenciales, avanzados y aportaciones especiales. Netbiblo.
Ramos, C., Jadán-Guerrero, J., & Gómez-García, A. (2018). Relación entre el rendimiento académico y el autorreporte del funcionamiento ejecutivo de adolescentes ecuatorianos. Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana, 36(2), 405-417. Doi:10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.5481.
Ríos, M., Perianez, J.A., & Muñoz-Céspedes, J.M. (2004). Attentional control and slowness of information processing after severe traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 18(3), 257-272. Doi:10.1080/02699050310001617442.
Sánchez, G., García, J. (22 de junio de 2014). Predicción de la deserción escolar. https://www.semana.com/educacion/articulo/prediciendo-la-desercion-escolar/392724-3/.
Sánchez, J. (2020). Stroop Effect - Juego de colores. [mobile app]. Google Play. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.josesanchez.stroopeffect.
Schmidt, F.L. (2017). Beyond questionable research methods: The role of omitted relevant re-search in the credibility of research. Archives of Scientific Psychology, 5, 32-41. DOI:10.1037/arc0000033.
Schweitzer, P., Husky, M., Allard, M., Amieva, H., Pérès, K., Foubert-Samier, A., Dartigues, J., Swendsen, J. (2017). Feasibility and validity of mobile cognitive testing in the investigation of age-related cognitive decline. Int. J. Methods Psychiatr. Res., 26, 1-8. Doi: 10.1002/mpr.1521.
Sherwood, M.S., Kane, J.H., Weisend, M.P., & Parker, J.G. (2016). Enhanced control of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex neuro-physiology with realtime functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) neurofeedback training and working memory practice. Neuroimage, 1, (124) (Pt A), 214- 23. Doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.08.074.
Simmonds, D. J., Pekar, J. J., & Mostofsky, S. H. (2008). Meta-analysis of Go/No-go tasks demonstrating that fMRI activation associated with response inhibition is task-dependent. Neuropsychologia, 46(1), 224-232. Doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.07.015.
Simone, A.N., Marks, D.J., Bédard, A.C., & Halperin, J.M. (2018). Low working memory rather than ADHD symptoms predicts poor academic achievement in school-aged children. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 46(2), 277-290. Doi: 10.1007/s10802-017-0288-3.
Spiegel, J.A., Goodrich, J.M., Morris, B.M., Osborne, C.M., & Lonigan, C.J. (2021). Relations Between Executive Functions and Academic Outcomes in Elementary School Children: A Meta-Analysis. American Psychological Association,147(4), 329–351. Doi: 10.1037/bul0000322.
St. Clair-Thompson, H.L., & Gathercole, S.E. (2006). Executive functions and achievements in school: Shifting, updating, inhibition, and working memory. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 59, 745-759.Doi: 10.1080/17470210500162854.
Stelzer, F., & Cervigni, M.A. (2011). Desempeño académico y funciones ejecutivas en infancia y adolescencia: Una revisión de la literatura. Revista de Investigación en Educación, 1 (9), 148-156.
Strauss, C.C., Lahey, B.B., Jacobsen, R.H. (1982). The relationship of three measures of childhood depression to academic underachievement. J Appl Dev Psychol, 3, 375–380. Doi: 10.1016/0193-3973(82)90009-0.
Stroop, J.R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reaction. J Exp Psicol, 18, 643-62. Doi: 10.1037/0096-3445.121.1.15.
Stuss, D.T., & Alexander, M.P. (2007). Is there a dysexecutive syndrome? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Serie B Biological Science, 362(1481), 901- 915. Doi: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2096.
Taylor, S. F., Stern, E. R., & Gehring, W. J. (2007). Neural systems for error monitoring: recent findings and theoretical perspectives. Neuroscientist, 13(2), 160-172. Doi: 10.1177/1073858406298184.
Van der Ven, S.H., Kroesbergen, E.H., Boom, J., & Leseman, P.P. (2012). The development of executive functions and early mathematics: A dynamic relationship. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 100-119. Doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8279.2011.02035.x.
Wechsler, D. (2004). Escala de Memoria de Wechsler-III. TEA Ediciones, S.A.
Wiest, D.J., Wong, E.H., Bacon, J.M., Rosales, K.P., & Wiest, G.M. (2020). The Effectiveness of Computerized Cognitive Training on Working Memory in a School Setting. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 34(2), 465-471. DOI: 10.1002/acp.3634.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
All articles are published under an Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license. Authors retain copyright over their work.