Incorporating Evidence-Based Gamification and Machine Learning to Assess Preschool Executive Function: A Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Educational Technology
• Child Development

Background:

• Digital games and computerized assessments are increasingly common in childhood.
• Executive function skills are critical for academic and life success.
• There is a need to evaluate gamified assessments for young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of integrating gamification and adaptive machine learning into an executive function task for children aged 3-5.
• To assess the impact of gamification on performance and engagement in executive function tasks.
• To determine if gamified assessments maintain psychometric properties.

Main Methods:

• A gamified version of the Flanker Task was developed for children aged 3-5.
• A machine learning algorithm adapted task difficulty to individual performance.
• Performance was compared to a traditional Flanker Task and academic achievement outcomes.

Main Results:

• Performance on the gamified Flanker Task correlated with the traditional version and academic outcomes.
• Gamification significantly increased children's task enjoyment.
• Psychometric properties of the Flanker Task were preserved.

Conclusions:

• Gamified executive function assessments are feasible for young children.
• This approach enhances engagement and enjoyment without compromising validity.
• Adaptive gamified assessments offer a promising method to reduce data loss and improve assessment experiences for children.