Going Beyond Correlations: Experimental Methods for Investigating the Role of Executive Functions in the Development of Academic Skills

Substantial effort has been dedicated to understanding the role of executive functions (EFs) in children's academic achievement. However, to understand how EFs, including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility help with academic skills, we need more experimental rather than correlational approaches. Methods for experimentally manipulating EFs are often developed in the adult literature, and developmental science stands to benefit substantially from these sophisticated techniques. In this article, I outline key methods for manipulating EFs and indicate the frequency of their use. In sum, inhibitory control is at an exciting stage with experimental methods being applied to academic skills for the first time. Cognitive flexibility has promising ideas, and both inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility could use working memory as a benchmark for assessing their progress. This article serves as a reference point for researchers investigating executive functions, which I encourage cognitive and developmental researchers to build upon to advance our knowledge of academic development.