Frequently Asked Questions about the MEFS™ App

How long does the Minnesota Executive Function Scale take?

Administration time is usually 3-6 minutes. The scale is computer-adaptive, and programmed to figure out the limits of a child’s performance quickly (for most children, only 2-3 levels need to be administered).

Is the Minnesota Executive Function Scale reliable?

Yes. Re-test reliability is consistently very high (greater than .90).

Is the Minnesota Executive Function Scale valid?

Yes. The MEFS™ App has been validated as a robust measure of age-related changes in Executive Function in young children, highly correlated with full-length batteries of Executive Function, predictive of kindergarten readiness measures of math and literacy (independent of IQ), and children known to have Executive Function impairments perform more poorly on the MEFS™ assessment. (See Technical Report for details.)

Does it produce separate scores for working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility?

No. The MEFS™ App was designed to provide a brief, comprehensive assessment of emerging Executive Function skills. There is a large body of data showing that Executive Function is a unitary construct in early childhood.

Is it available in Spanish?

Yes. It is currently available in English, Spanish, Dutch, German (Swiss), Swedish, Mandarin Chinese, Somali, Hmong, French, and Arabic. Please contact Reflection Sciences to request additional language versions.

Does the tool work well in school/institutional and home settings?

Yes. The MEFS™ App is portable and brief, which is important for field settings.

Does the MEFS™ App require internet access?

Yes, the app does require that your tablet has an internet connection. A Wi-Fi "hotspot" is recommended for remote areas.

Is the Minnesota Executive Function Scale suitable for children from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds?

Yes. The MEFS™ App has been used successfully with children from a wide range of backgrounds, from very disadvantaged (homeless) to very privileged. The items have been chosen to be familiar and engaging for most children.

If the examiner makes a mistake, or if there is an interruption, can she start over?

Yes. There is a “home” button to start over.

Can the Minnesota Executive Function Scale be administered to multiple children simultaneously?

The MEFS™ App is designed to be administered individually to ensure that young children are fully attentive and that the results give an accurate portrayal of their Executive Function skills.

Can all children be assessed on the Minnesota Executive Function Scale?

The MEFS App™ is designed for use across a wide range of ability levels, from very low to very high, but children must understand the language of testing, and have normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing. They must also be able to interact with a tablet touchscreen.

Which tablets can I use to administer the MEFS™ App?

The MEFS™ App is compatible with iOS (Apple) and OS (Android) platforms. For iOS iPads, the requirements include: iOS 8.0 or newer, 2 GB RAM, 4 Core Processor, and 8 GB Internal Memory. We do not recommend using the iPad Mini, as the screen is too small. For OS Android tablets, the requirements include: Android 5.0 or newer, 2 GB RAM, 4 Core Processor, and 8 GB Internal Memory.

What if a child is unfamiliar with touchscreen tablets?

Children as young as 2 years of age find the tablet very engaging and catch on quickly to “touch” and “drag” features. Practice trials are included to give children a chance to learn how to drag the images. For novices, we suggest warming up with a game that involves dragging, such as “Where’s My Water?”

Does a child need to be able to read to be given this assessment?

No.

What age children can the Minnesota Executive Function Scale be used with?

The MEFS App is designed to sensitively capture Executive Function skills in individuals ages 2 to 85+. It can be used with very low functioning and very high functioning individuals within this age range. For older children and adults, there are modifications to the presentation.

Can scores on the Minnesota Executive Function Scale be used to diagnose clinical conditions (e.g., ADHD, LD)?

No. The MEFS App is not intended to be a diagnostic tool, although it provides reliable and valid information about a child’s current level of proficiency and growth in Executive Function relative to norms and instructional goals, including state standards.

Are there gender differences in performance?

Yes. Recent analyses of large samples show that females perform slightly better than males on average.

Is the Minnesota Executive Function Scale a kindergarten screening tool?

Yes, the MEFS App can be used to detect Executive Function difficulties in rising kindergartners; however, it is not just a screener. It is sensitive to individual differences and growth in normative and high-functioning children, and thus also can be used as a formative assessment in combination with Executive Function-focused activities.

Are there practice effects on the Minnesota Executive Function Scale?

No. There has been no evidence of practice effects when the MEFS App is re-administered (different forms) the same day, after several days, or after two weeks.

Is there an effect of repeated testing once children become familiar with the colors and shapes?

It is not possible to “memorize” answers. Nonetheless, we recommend using alternate forms of the scale (with different combinations of shapes and colors) when re-administering the MEFS App to the same child.

What if a child is colorblind?

The colors have been chosen to be discriminable for most forms of color blindness.

Will young children be familiar with the shapes and colors used in the Minnesota Executive Function Scale?

Most likely, yes. All items were chosen based on research showing which words for colors and animals children typically learn first. All images and colors are labeled by the Examiner.

How do I access my MEFS App data?

Data are not stored on your portable tablet. Instead, you can access your data by going to www.executivefunctionassessment.com and entering the login information provided to you after you had completed training. Here, you can download PDF Individual Reports, as well as an Excel Group Report of your group as a whole.

How much training is required to administer the Minnesota Executive Function Scale?

A strong training program ensures that your data and the norms are valid. Brief in-person or online training is followed by personal practice and certification, totaling approximately 3 hours of time.