Self-Ordered Pointing Test for 4.5- to 7.5-Year-Old French Children: Psychometric Properties and Normative Data

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• The Self-Ordered Pointing Test (SOPT) is a neuropsychological tool assessing executive functions.
• Adaptation and standardization are crucial for cross-cultural and developmental research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the SOPT for French children aged 4.5 to 7.5 years.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties and reliability of the adapted SOPT.
• To establish normative data for clinical and research applications.

Main Methods:

• 171 French children aged 4.5-7.5 years completed the adapted SOPT.
• Performance was analyzed based on age, gender, condition (object vs. abstract), and task difficulty.
• Reliability was assessed using established indices.
• Correlations with fluid intelligence and verbal span were examined.

Main Results:

• SOPT performance was sensitive to age and task difficulty, but not gender.
• Children performed better in the object condition compared to the abstract condition.
• Moderate reliability indices were observed.
• Higher SOPT scores correlated with better fluid intelligence and verbal span in the abstract condition.

Conclusions:

• The adapted SOPT is a viable tool for assessing executive functions in young French children.
• Normative data support its use in clinical settings for evaluating cognitive development.
• Performance patterns highlight the influence of age, task demands, and cognitive abilities on executive function.