Community participation: measurement issues with persons with deficits in executive functioning

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Executive functioning and self-regulation deficits are common in rehabilitation populations.
• These deficits can impair accurate responses to psychosocial surveys, affecting data reliability.
• The Cognitive Aspects of Survey Methodology (CASM) framework highlights executive functions in survey response processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To underscore the challenges faced by individuals with executive functioning deficits in survey participation.
• To emphasize the need for empirical research evaluating strategies to improve data accuracy in these populations.
• To advocate for survey design and administration that accounts for executive functioning deficits.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews the CASM paradigm, outlining four key cognitive processes in survey response.
• It discusses how executive functions are integral to each of these processes.
• The text highlights existing research gaps concerning individuals with executive functioning deficits.

Main Results:

• Respondents without cognitive deficits already experience challenges with executive functions during surveys.
• Individuals with executive functioning deficits are expected to face significantly greater difficulties.
• Current research lacks empirical evaluation of strategies to mitigate these difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Survey methodology must address the impact of executive functioning deficits on response accuracy.
• There is a critical need for research to test and implement error-reduction strategies for vulnerable populations.
• Improved survey design and administration are essential for reliable psychosocial data collection.