Executive function at age 3 predicts theory of mind at age 4, controlling for gender, income-to-needs, and receptive language¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r3 · q3
Currency · newest study 2014 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? In a latent variable model, EF at 3 years significantly predicted ToM at 4 years (β = .52, p = .001). → Marcovitch S. 2014

Evidence¶

Marcovitch S. 2014¶

Marcovitch S., O'Brien M., Calkins S. D., Leerkes E. M., Weaver J. M., Levine D. W. (2014). A Longitudinal Assessment of the Relation between Executive Function and Theory of Mind at 3, 4, and 5 Years. Cognitive Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2014.07.001

q3 · i? · associational · r3

Latent variable model fit to data from 226 children tested at 3, 4, and 5 years on multiple EF and ToM tasks, controlling for gender, income-to-needs, and PPVT. The model found "earlier EF abilities predicted later ToM abilities (from age 3 to age 4: β = .52, p = .001"; no effect size was printed.

"After accounting for the effects of gender, income-to-needs, PPVT, and the stability within each construct, earlier EF abilities predicted later ToM abilities (from age 3 to age 4: β = .52, p = .001; from age 4 to age 5: β = .41, p = .009)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Executive Function — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• The developmental precedence of EF over ToM persists from 4 to 5 years of age — related
• Earlier theory of mind does not uniquely predict later executive function at either transition — related
• Family income-to-needs at age 3 predicts both EF and ToM through age 5 — related
• A combined EF/ToM one-factor model fits the data poorly, supporting construct dissociation — related
• EF and ToM each show substantial longitudinal stability from 3 to 5 years — related
• No interaction effect of executive functions and theory of mind on semantic fluency in preschool children — related