An examination of the Amsterdam Executive Function Inventory (AEFI) in South Africa: A factor analytic study.

Abstract

Research on executive functioning is hamstrung by the lack of access to instrumentation in developing contexts. The exploration of self-report measures of executive functioning is important to address instrumentation challenges. This study aimed to validate the Amsterdam Executive Function Inventory (AEFI) in a sample of adult university students in South Africa. Method: This archival study used secondary research gathered by Coppin (2021). A total of 1,315 students at a South African university completed the AEFI online. Assumption testing was done to confirm that the data supported confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's α was computed to determine internal consistency with this sample. CFA was used to evaluate the factor structure against the theoretical model underpinning the AEFI. Results: The data supported using CFA. Cronbach's α for the overall scale was .74, indicating good stability. For individual subscales, αs ranged between .55 and .67 suggesting adequate reliability. The CFA model showed good fit on five indices after respecification, χ 2 (56) = 266.86, p < .01; chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio = 4.77; root-mean-square error of approximation = .054; comparative fit index = .93; standardized root-mean-square residual = .055; goodness-of-fit index, GFI = .97]. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that the AEFI is a valid and reliable instrument for use among adult student populations in the South African context. Public Significance StatementThis study provided evidence for the Amsterdam Executive Function Inventory (AEFI) as a valid and reliable instrument. The AEFI was found to be fit for use for the measurement of self-reported executive functioning among adult student populations in South Africa.