Comprehensive Executive Function Index Scale: Development, Validation and Reliability Testing for Basketball Players

Background:

Inhibition, working memory (WM), and cognitive flexibility (CF) are the key domains of the executive function (EF) that enable basketball players (BP) to anticipate opponents’ actions and strategies and adjust quickly as the game changes. Some scales evaluate the independent component in individuals. To date, no scale is available to measure the combined inhibition, WM, and CF in basketball players.

Objectives:

The study aims to develop a combined measure of inhibition, WM, and CF, as a comprehensive executive function index scale (CEFIS) and to validate the scale for its content, reliability, and minimum detectable change (MDC).

Methods:

The study involves three stages. The first stage is scale (CEFIS) item development and validation. This includes domain and the item generated through a systematic literature search to extract items related to inhibition, WM, and CF in BP and through structured interviews. The expert group will then review the created domains and all items before being revised and tested in a pilot approach. Based on the responsiveness of pilot testing, it will be finally revised. The second stage is to validate the scale for its content. This stage is to assess the test re-test reliability and inter-rater reliability.  The third stage is the final stage in which the study determines the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC) at the generated scale’s 95% confidence interval (CI).

Discussion:

CEFIS will be the first among the scales to measure the combined Inhibition, working memory (WM), and cognitive flexibility (CF) these are the key domains of the executive function (EF) in basketball players (BP). This single-scale CEFI will give the overall status of BP. The floor and ceiling effects can be calculated from the total score. The scale will help in the documentation of the change in score domains and total score. This development of this scale’s items and domains involves a systematic literature review and structured interviews, which will help reduce the likelihood of overlooking important items. This approach aims to establish the scale as a highly effective tool for documenting patient outcomes in India.