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Using computerized measures of executive function skills in 3-year-olds—A cautionary tale from Kenya

Article scientifique 2026 Anglais

Résumé

Introduction Computerized assessments of executive function (EF) skills are ubiquitous in research studies across the life span. This study reports on our experiences using a computerized assessment of EF skills in two studies that involved 3-year-olds in Kenya. Methods Our initial attempt involved 64 children ( M = 35.6, SD = 0.71 months old) who were participating in the Tunza Mwana study in rural Kenya. Our second attempt involved 161 children ( M = 36.6, SD = 1.3 months old) who were participating in the ABC study in urban Kenya. Both studies administered a similar battery of tasks, using identical tablets, a common approach to assessor training, and included some cross-over in assessors. Results and discussion Most children were unable to pass the training items that are used to ensure they comprehend task instructions (rates of individual task completion were 17–70% in Tunza Mwana and 18–74% in ABC cohorts, respectively). On average, children in the Tunza Mwana cohort passed training items for 2 ( M = 1.7, SD = 0.9) of 4 possible tasks, and children in the ABC cohort passed training items for 3 ( M = 2.7, SD = 1.3) of 6 possible tasks. Among children who passed training items and proceeded to test items, task performance was typically low and often below chance levels. Household (i.e., access to electricity), caregiver (i.e., educational attainment), and child-level (i.e., observed attention, cognitive and language ability) characteristics were inconsistently associated with EF task completion and accuracy, which raised further questions about the validity of task scores. We discuss the results of researchers who are interested in tablet-based assessments of EF skills with 3-year-olds in low- and middle-income country contexts.

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Willoughby, M., Wylie, A., Collett, B., Adhiambo, J., Otieno, C., Mwangi, L., Oucho, I., Nyaguthi, P., Lihanda, P., Wanini, E., Magedson, A., Wamithi, S., Mutai, B., Tiwari, R., Maleche-Obimbo, E., (3661483), D., Singa, B., McGrath, C., Benki-Nugent, S. (2026). Using computerized measures of executive function skills in 3-year-olds—A cautionary tale from Kenya. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2026.1881826

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Auteur(s)

Michael T. Willoughby Amanda C. Wylie Brent R. Collett Judy Adhiambo Collins Otieno Laura Mwangi Irine Oucho Perpetual Nyaguthi Priscah Lihanda Edemba Priscillah Wanini Ariana Magedson Susan Wamithi Beatrice C. Mutai Ruchi Tiwari Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo Dalton Wamalwa (3661483) Benson Singa Christine J. McGrath Sarah Benki-Nugent

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