The ecological validity of neuropsychological tests of executive function in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Although performance-based tests are used to evaluate executive function (EF) processes, studies comparing scores from performance-based and behavioural measures of EF indicate that the former have little, if any, ecological validity in various clinical populations. This study examined the relationship between three performance-based EF tests--the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)--and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) in a predominantly Aboriginal/Indian sample of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD; N = 96). Bivariate correlations and canonical correlation analysis were not statistically significant, although more impaired scores on BRIEF Organization of Materials were weakly associated with fewer perseverative errors on the WCST. Performance-based test variables also did not meaningfully predict scores on the two BRIEF indexes. Findings are discussed in the context of the different aspects of EF assessed by performance-based EF tests and the BRIEF