EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE FRONTAL LOBES - PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OFA SELF-RATING SCALE

This study investigated the psychometric properties of a self-rating s cale designed to test the executive functions of the frontal lobes, A set of 16 items was selected, based on face validity, from the 200-ite m Coolidge Axis II Inventory. Cronbach scale reliability for the new s cale was .72 on 1,223 purportedly normal participants. A factor analys is yielded a three-factor structure, Decision-making difficulties (8 i tems, 23% of the variance, scale reliability .77), Poor planning (4 it ems, 15% of the variance, scale reliability .61), and Task incompletio n (6 items, 9% of the variance, scale reliability .66). A multivariate analysis of variance, performed on the overall scale sum and the thre e subscales, between 17 closed head-injured patients and a matched con trol group was significant. The head-injured patients scored significa ntly higher on the over-all measure of executive dysfunction and highe r on the decision-making difficulties subscale but not on the other tw o subscales.