Assessing programming and control in first graders: neuropsychological examination, analysis of writing mistakes, BRIEF questionnaire

Recently in the field of child neuropsychology there has been a steady increase in the use of ecologically valid methods of higher mental function assessment, including behavioural observation in different situation, analysis of children's written texts (follow-up diagnostics), as well as questionnaires addressed to parents and teachers. One of the most popular questionnaires for executive function assessment is BRIEF (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function) was translated into Russian. The paper presents an analysis of convergence of activity programming and control function data obtained using three different methods: BRIEF question¬naire, neuropsychological assessment based on A. R. Luria's methodology, and mistake analysis in exercise books on writing. Data convergence analysis between the three methods indicates that the Russian version of the BRIEF questionnaire can be applied together with the other two methods to diagnose the anomalies of pro¬gramming and control. Comparison of the study results to similar studies done in other countries indicates high validity of the existing procedures of children neuropsychological examination data analysis and interpretation developed within the school of A. R. Luria.

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