Screening for Executive Function Difficulties: An Evaluation of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2nd Edition Screener, Teacher Report (BRIEF2-TS)

• Published in: Psychological assessment 2023-04, Vol.35 (4), p.366-377
• Main Authors: Waschl, Nicolette, Khng, Kiat Hui, Bull, Rebecca, Ng, Ee Lynn, Sun, He, Chan, Wei Teng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Behavior; Behavior rating scales; Child; Child Behavior - psychology; Concurrent Validity; Educational Status; Ethnic Identity; Ethnicity; Executive Function; Executive Function - physiology; Factor Analysis; Factor Structure; Female; Human; Humans; Inventories; Male; Measurement Invariance; Neuropsychological Tests; Predictive Validity; Rating; Reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Screening Tests; Test Reliability; Test Validity
• ISSN: 1040-3590; 1939-134X; 1939-134X
• DOI: 10.1037/pas0001188

Executive functions (EFs) correlate positively with many developmental outcomes, and ecologically valid measures of EFs may be more predictive of some outcomes than performance-based measures. Accordingly, there is a need to evaluate short EF rating scales, such as the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2nd Edition Screener, Teacher Report (BRIEF2-TS). Data from 1,322 kindergarten children in Singapore (50% girls; 61.3% Chinese, 10.6% Malay, 16.3% Indian, 4.0% other ethnicity, and 7.8% did not report their ethnicity), followed for 3 years, were used to examine the multilevel factor structure, gender and longitudinal invariance, reliability, and concurrent and predictive validity of BRIEF2-TS scores. Results indicated a two-factor within-level structure (11 items; cognitive and emotional-behavioral regulation) that was at least partially invariant across gender and time. Concurrent validity with direct EF measures and ratings of self-regulation, and predictive validity for socioemotional and academic skills were good. Overall, BRIEF2-TS scores showed evidence for good validity and reliability. Future research should consider correlates of the between-level structure and further consider structure and validity in clinical samples. Public Significance Statement Executive functions (EFs) are positively related to important aspects of child development, and short EF rating scales are useful for measuring child EF in large-scale clinical and research settings. This study provides evidence of the psychometric validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2nd Edition Screener, Teacher Report (BRIEF2-TS) with young children in Singapore.