Development of a performance assessment of executive function: The children's kitchen task assessment

OBJECTIVE. This study developed and explored the validity of the Children's Kitchen Task Assessment (CKTA), a performance assessment of executive function. METHOD. The development of the CKTA is described. Children were given the CKTA and neuropsychological assessments of executive functioning. Parents completed the Parent Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (Parent BRIEF). RESULTS. Forty-nine typically developing children ages 8 to 12 years participated in this study. Interrater reliability and internal consistency were established. Preliminary evidence of discriminant validity was reflected in significant differences on neuropsychological tests and the Parent BRIEF between high- and low-scoring CKTA groups. Age-related differences in CKTA performance further supported discriminant validity. Support for concurrent validity was observed in moderate correlations with established neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSION. Preliminary results suggest the CKTA is a valid performance assessment that evaluates the level of cognitive assistance children require to complete a challenging functional activity.