Open AccessCognitive predictors of kindergarten achievement in African American children.
Author(s) -
A. Nayena Blankson,
Jessica A. Gudmundson,
Memuna Kondeh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of educational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.486
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1939-2176
pISSN - 0022-0663
DOI - 10.1037/edu0000346
Subject(s) - fluid and crystallized intelligence , psychology , developmental psychology , cognition , intelligence quotient , academic achievement , perspective (graphical) , reading (process) , executive functions , cognitive skill , confirmatory factor analysis , fluid intelligence , working memory , structural equation modeling , political science , law , statistics , mathematics , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , computer science
Three aspects of cognition (fluid intelligence, executive functioning, and crystallized intelligence) in pre-K were examined as predictors of math and reading achievement in kindergarten among an economically diverse sample of 198 African American children. From a variable-centered perspective, confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three aspects of cognition can be distinguished. Subsequent regression analyses indicated that only executive functioning and crystallized intelligence predicted math and reading achievement in kindergarten. From a person-centered perspective, three profiles of cognition were identified: low fluid and crystallized intelligence with average executive functioning, average abilities in all three areas, and high abilities in all three areas, but particularly higher in executive functioning. Children with low fluid and crystallized intelligence during pre-K had the lowest math and reading skills in kindergarten, whereas children with the highest cognitive skills had the highest math and reading skills in kindergarten. Together, the variable-centered and person-centered results suggest that perhaps there should be increased focus on crystallized intelligence in early education programs, policies, and interventions in addition to a focus on executive functioning.