Constructing the Children's Future Thinking Questionnaire: A reliable and valid measure of children's future-oriented cognition

Dev Psychol. 2020 Apr;56(4):756-772. doi: 10.1037/dev0000885. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Abstract

Future-oriented cognition (planning, prospective memory, episodic foresight, saving, and delay of gratification) involves a critical set of skills that children must develop for successful daily functioning. The current study developed the Children's Future Thinking Questionnaire (CFTQ), a parent-report on 3- to 7-year-olds' future-oriented cognition. The CFTQ showed high internal consistency and detected development of future-oriented cognition (Study 1; N = 145). Study 2 (N = 255) showed high internal consistency reliability and preliminary validity of the CFTQ. Study 3 (N = 101) confirmed strong reliability and validity of the CFTQ. Study 4 (N = 105) revealed excellent test-retest reliability of the CFTQ. Thus, the CFTQ is the first reliable and valid parent-report measure of children's developing future-oriented cognitive abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Attitude
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards*
  • Psychometrics / instrumentation
  • Psychometrics / methods
  • Psychometrics / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Thinking / physiology*

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