Six elements test vs D-KEFS: what does "Ecological Validity" tell us?
Yana Suchy1, Michelle Gereau Mora1, Stacey Lipio Brothers1
1Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Summary
Traditional executive functioning (EF) tests, like the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), are better predictors of daily living activities than the Modified Six Elements Test (MSET) in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Executive functioning (EF) tests predict instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), but ecological validity is a concern.
- The Modified Six Elements Test (MSET) was designed for better ecological validity in assessing daily functioning.
- Previous findings on MSET's ability to predict real-world functioning are inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the predictive ability of the MSET against traditional EF measures for IADLs.
- To assess IADLs across three modalities: lab-based self-report, lab-based performance, and home-based assessment.
- To determine if MSET offers unique predictive value beyond traditional EF tests.
Main Methods:
- 93 adults aged 60-85 participated.
- Participants completed the MSET, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), and lab-based IADL assessments.
- Home-based IADLs were tracked for three weeks using the Daily Assessment of Independent Living and Executive Skills (DAILIES) protocol.
Main Results:
- MSET predicted only home-based IADLs.
- D-KEFS predicted IADLs across all three assessment modalities.
- D-KEFS predicted home-based IADLs independently of MSET, but MSET did not add predictive value beyond D-KEFS.
Conclusions:
- Traditional EF tests (D-KEFS) are more effective than MSET for predicting IADLs in community-dwelling older adults.
- Results suggest that traditional EF measures remain superior for assessing functional independence in cognitively healthy older adults.
- The MSET may not be a suitable replacement for established EF tests in this population.
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