e-Pedagogium 2020, 20(3):70-79 | DOI: 10.5507/epd.2020.008
Executive functioning and its influence on students' school success
- a Výskumné centrum kognitívnej edukácie, Pedagogická fakulta Prešovskej univerzity v Prešove, Ul. 17. novembra 15, 080 01 Prešov, Slovenská republika
- b Katedra predškolskej a elementárnej pedagogiky a psychológie, Pedagogická fakulta Prešovskej univerzity v Prešove, Ul. 17. novembra 15, 080 01 Prešov, Slovenská republika
The paper is devoted to the concept of executive functioning in relation to the school success of students. The main goal of the paper is (1) to define the concept of executive functioning, (2) to point out executive functioning as a key determinant of students' school success, (3) to indicate possibilities of assessment and stimulation of executive functioning. Based on the analysis of published research studies, it can be concluded that appropriate stimulation focused on components of executive functioning (working memory, inhibition and attention control, cognitive planning, cognitive flexibility) can increase students' executive functioning and ultimately affect their school achievement.
Keywords: executive functioning, reading comprehension, assessment of executive functioning, stimulation of executive functioning.
Received: February 17, 2020; Revised: June 14, 2020; Accepted: July 25, 2020; Prepublished online: September 10, 2020; Published: December 31, 2020 Show citation
References
- Agostino, A., Johnson, J., & Pascual-Leone, J. (2010). Executive Functions underlying multiplicative reasoning: Problem type matters. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 105, 286-305.
Go to original source...
- Anderson, P. (2002). Assessment and development of executive functioning (EF) during childhood. Child Neuropsychology, 8(2), 71-82.
Go to original source...
- Baddeley, A. (2002). Fractionating the central executive. In: Stuss, D. T, & Knight, R. T. (Eds.), Principles of frontal lobe function (p. 246-260). New York: Oxford University Press.
Go to original source...
- Baggetta, P., & Alexander, P. A. (2016). Conceptualization and Operacionalization of Executive Function. Mind, Brain and Education, 10(1), 10-32.
Go to original source...
- Banich, M. T. (2009). Executive Function: The search for an integrative account. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 2.
Go to original source...
- Barkley, R. A. (1997). ADHD and the nature of self-control. New York: Guilford Press.
- Benzing, V., Schmidt, M., Jäger, K., Egger, F., Conzelmann, A., & Roebers, C. M. (2018). A classroom intervention to improve executive functions in late primary school children: Too 'old' for improvements? British Journal of Educational Psychology, 89(2), 225-238.
Go to original source...
- Borella, E., & de Ribaupierre, A. (2014). The role of working memory, inhibition, and processing speed in text comprehension in children. Learning and Individual Differences, 34, 86-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2014.05.001
Go to original source...
- Bull, R., Espy, K. A., & Wiebe, S. A. (2008). Short-term memory, working memory, and executive functioning in preschoolers: Longitudinal predictors of mathematical achievement at age 7 year. Developmental Neuropsychology, 33(3), 205-228. DOI: 10.1080/87565640801982312.
Go to original source...
- Bull, R., & Lee, K. (2014). Executive functioning and mathematics achievement. Child Development Perspectives, 8(1), 36-41.
Go to original source...
- Burgess, P. (1997). Theory and methodology in executive function research. In Rabbitt, P. (Ed.). Methodology of frontal executive function. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.
- Cartwright, K. B. (2012). Insights from cognitive neuroscience: The importance of executive function for early reading development and education. Early Education and Development, 23(1), 24-36. DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2011.615025.
Go to original source...
- Cartwright, K. B., Marshall, T. R., Huemer, C. M., & Payne, J. B. (2019). Executive function in the classroom: Cognitive flexibility supports reading fluency for typical readers and teacher - identified low - achieving readers. Research Developmental Disabilities, 88, 42-52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.01.011.
Go to original source...
- Clark, C. A., Pritchard, V. E., & Woodward, L. J. (2010). Preschool Executive FunctioningAbilities Predict Early Mathematics Achievement. Developmental Psychology, 46(5), 1176-1191.
Go to original source...
- Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science, 333(6045), 959-964.
Go to original source...
- Drewe, E. A. (1975). Go-no go learning after frontal lobe lesions in humans. Cortex: A Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior, 11(1), 8-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-9452(75)80015-3
Go to original source...
- Fuhs, M., Fafan, D. C., & Nesbitt, K. T. (2015). Executive function skills and academic achievement gains in prekindergarten: contributions of learning - related begaviors. Developmental Psychology, 51(7), 865-878.
Go to original source...
- Gazzaniga, M. S. (1985). The social brain. New York: Basic Books.
- Goldman & Rakic, P. S. (1984). Modular organization of prefrontal cortex. Trends in Neurosciences, 7(11), 419-424.
Go to original source...
- Guajardo, N. R., & Cartwright, K. B. (2016). The contribution of theory of mind, counterfactual reasoning, and executive function to pre-readers' language comprehension and later reading awareness and comprehension in elementary school. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 144, 27-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2015.11.004
Go to original source...
- ChristopherSEN, M. E., Miyake, A., Keenan, J. M., Pennington, B., Defries, J. C., Wadsworth, S. J., Willcutt, E., & Olson, R. K. (2012). Predicting word reading and comprehension with executive function and speed measures across development: A latent variable analysis. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(3), 470-478. DOI: 10.1037/a0027375.
Go to original source...
- Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2002). The role of prefrontal cortex in working-memory capacity, executive attention, and general fluid intelligence: An individual-differences perspective. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 9(4), 637-671.
Go to original source...
- Kieffer, M. J., Vukovic, R. K., & Berry, D. (2013). Roles of attention shifting and inhibitory control in fourth-grade reading comprehension. Reading Research Quarterly, 48, 333-348.
Go to original source...
- Kieffer, M., Vukovic, R., & Berry, D. (2013). Roles of Attention Shifting and Inhibitory Control in Fourth-Grade Reading Comprehension. Reading Research Quarterly, 48(4), 333-348. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/43497159.
Go to original source...
- Koukolík, F. (2012). Lidský mozek. Funkční systémy. Norma a poruchy. Praha: Portál.
- Kovalčíková, I., & Ropovik, I. (2012). Exekutívne fungovanie ako predpoklad schopnosti učiť sa. Pedagogické rozhľady, 21(5), 1-5.
- Kovalčíková, I., Ropovik, I., Ferjenčík, J., Liptáková, Ľ., Klimovič, M., Demko, M. et. al. (2015). Diagnostika a stimulácia kognitívnych a exekutívnych funkcií žiaka v mladšom školskom veku. Prešov: Vydavateľstvo Prešovskej univerzity v Prešove.
- Kovalčíková, I., & Runčáková, I. (2020). Diagnostika metakognitívnych schopností a exekutívnych funkcií žiakov [online]. Pedagogika.sk, 11(2), 73-122.
- Lee, K., Ng, E. L., & Ng, S. F. (2009). The contributions of working memory and executive functioning to problem representation and solution generation in algebraic word problems. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(2), 373-387. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013843
Go to original source...
- Liptáková, Ľ. & Klimovič, M. (2015). Stimulovanie exekutívnych funkcií žiaka prostredníctvom procesov porozumenia textu. O dieťati, jazyku, literatúre, 3(2), 9-27.
- Locascio, G., Mahone, E. M., Eason, S. H., & Cutting, L. E. (2010). Executive dysfunction among children with reading comprehension deficits. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43(5), 441-454.
Go to original source...
- Loosli, S. V., Buschkuehl, M., Perring, W. J., & Jaeggi, S. M. (2012). Working memory training improves reading processes in typically developing children. Child Neuropsychology, 18(1), 62-78.
Go to original source...
- Luria, A. R. (1973). The working brain. London: Penguin.
- Lyons, K. E., & Zelazo, P. D. (2011). Monitoring, metacognition, and executive function: Elucidating the role of self-reflection in the development of self-regulation. In J. B. Benson (Ed.), Advances in child development and behavior. Advances in child development and behavior, Vol. 40 (p. 379-412). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386491-8.00010-4
Go to original source...
- Mabbott, D. J., & Bisanz, J. (2008). Computational skills, working memory, and conceptual knowledge on older children with mathematics learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 41(1), 15-28.
Go to original source...
- MacLeod, C. M. (1992). The Stroop task: The "gold standard" of attentional measures. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 121(1), 12-14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.121.1.12
Go to original source...
- Marcovitch, S., Jacques, S., Boscovski, J. J., & Zelazo, P. D. (2008). Self-reflection and the cognitive control of behavior: Implications for learning. Mind, Brain, and Education, 2(3), 136-141.
Go to original source...
- Meltzer, L. (2007). Executive Function in education: From theory to practice. New York: Guilford Press.
- Meltzer, L. (2010). Promoting executive function in the classroom. New York: Guilford Press.
- Moffitt, T. E., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D., Dickson, N., Hancox, R. J., Harrington, H., et al. (2011). A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 108(7), 2693-2698.
Go to original source...
- Naglieri, J. A., & Goldstein, S. (2014). Assessment of executive function using rating scales: Psychometric considerations. In S. Goldstein & J. A. Naglieri (Eds.), Handbook of executive functioning (p. 159-170). Springer Science + Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8106-5_10
Go to original source...
- MŠVVŠ SR, NÚCEM, Miklovičová, J. & Valovič, J. (Eds.). Národná správa PISA 2018. (2019). Bratislava: Národný ústav certifikovaných meraní vzdelávania.
- Nouwens, S., Groen, M. A., & Verhoeven, L. (2017). How working memory relates to children's reading comprehension: The importance of domain-specificity in storage and processing. Reading and Writing, 30, 105-120.
Go to original source...
- Paananen, M., Aro, T., Närhi, V., & Aro, M. (2018). Group-based intervention on attention and executive functions in the school context. Educational Psychology, 38(7), 859-876.
Go to original source...
- Reitan, R. M. (1958). Validity of the Trail Making Test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 8, 271-276. https://doi.org/10.2466/PMS.8.7.271-276
Go to original source...
- Sesma, H. W., Mahone, E. M., Levine, T., Eason, S. H., & Cutting, L. E. (2009). The contribution of executive skills to reading comprehension. Child Neuropsychology, 15(3), 232-246.
Go to original source...
- Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643-662. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054651
Go to original source...
- Toll, S. W., Van Der Ven, S. H., Kroesbergen, E. H., & Van Luit, J. E. (2011). Executive functions as a predictor of math learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(6), 521-532. DOI: 10.1177/0022219410387302.
Go to original source...
- Van Dyke, J. A., Johns, C. L., & Kukona, A. (2014). Low working memory capacity is only spuriously related to poor reading comprehension. Cognition, 131(3), 373-403.
Go to original source...
- Vukovic, R. K., & Siegel, L. S. (2010). Academic and cognitive characteristics of persistent mathematics difficulty from first through fourth grade. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 25(1), 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5826.2009.00298.x
Go to original source...
- Wechsler, D. (1944). The measurement of adult intelligence. Baltimore, MD: The Wiliams and Wilkins Company.
- Záverečná správa projektu APVV-15-0273, nepublikovaný materiál.
- Zelazo, P. D., Blair, C. B., & Willoughby, M. T. (2016). Executive function: Implication for education. Washington, DC: National Centre for Education Research.
- Zelazo, P. D., & Carlson, S. M. (2002). Hot and cool executive function in Childhood and Adolescence: Development and Plasticity. Child Development Perspectives, 6(4), 354-360.
- Zimmerman, B. J. (2008). Investigating self-regulation and motivation: Historical background, methodological developments, and future prospects. American Educational Research Journal, 45(1), 166-183.
Go to original source...
- prof. PhDr. Iveta Kovalčíková, PhD.Výskumné centrum kognitívnej edukácieMgr. Ivana Martinková, PhD.Katedra predškolskej a elementárnej pedagogiky a psychológiePedagogická fakulta Prešovskej univerzity v PrešoveUl. 17. novembra 15, 080 01 Prešov, Slovenská republikae-mail: iveta.kovalcikova@unipo.sk; ivana.runcakova@gmail.com
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.