Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Measurement of Action Planning in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: A Comparison Between 3 Tasks
Marjolein Jongbloed-Pereboom1, Steffie Spruijt, Maria W G Nijhuis-van der Sanden
1Behavioural Science Institute (Ms Jongbloed-Pereboom, Ms Spruijt, and Dr Steenbergen), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (Dr Nijhuis-van der Sanden), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; School of Psychology (Dr Steenbergen), Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
Purpose:
To compare age-related action planning performance on 3 different tasks, focusing on differences in task complexity.
Methods:
A total of 119 participants were divided across 6 age groups (4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-12, 14-16, and 20-22 years). Participants performed 3 action planning tasks: the overturned cup task, the bar transport task, and the sword task. Anticipatory planning was assessed via the proportion of comfortable end postures.
Results:
The increase in proportion of comfortable end postures developed more gradually for the overturned cup task with earlier ceiling effect (6 years) than for the other 2 tasks (10 years and no ceiling). The overturned cup task correlated fairly with the other tasks; the bar transport task and sword task correlated moderately.
Conclusions:
All 3 tasks can be used to measure aspects of action planning but outcomes vary. Therefore, we recommend combining these tasks in assessments of individual children to obtain a good indication of action planning development.
