Relationship between executive functions and academic performance in psychology students

Authors

  • Manuel Cañas Lucendo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional del Chimborazo
  • Yosbanys Roque Herrera Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional del Chimborazo
  • Blanca Narcisa Fuertes López Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional del Chimborazo

Keywords:

Executive functions, Inhibitory control, Working memory, Cognitive flexibility, Academic performance

Abstract

Executive Functions (EF) (Working Memory, Inhibitory Control, and Cognitive Flexibility) have been associated with Academic Performance (AP). A non-experimental, correlational study was conducted to analyze the predictive relationship between EF and AP in 185 psychology students, selected through a non-probabilistic sampling. The following evaluation applications were utilized: Continuous Attention Test, Visuospatial memory test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Variant, Stroop Effect - Colors Game. The results showed a direct positive effect of working memory and inhibitory control and a negative effect of cognitive flexibility on AP. It might be concluded that EF have a low level of prediction on AP.

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Published

2022-12-12