What Do Tests Really Assess? Discrepancies and Convergences Between the UEF-1 Self-Report and Laboratory Measures of University Executive Functions

Abstract

This research evaluated the UEF-1 scale, designed to measure applied executive functions (EF) in Spanish-speaking university students, by comparing it with traditional laboratory tests. Study 1, with a sample of 100 Cuban students, found mostly non-significant correlations between the two methods. The UEF-1 showed more balanced score distributions, while the lab tests exhibited extreme biases. Study 2, using a qualitative subsample of 18 interviews, revealed that students perceive the UEF-1 as more relevant and contextual, assessing real-world resource management. In contrast, they see lab tests as measuring “cold,” abstract abilities under pressure. A “potential-application gap” was identified in students with high lab performance but low UEF-1 self-perception. It is concluded that both methods assess complementary but distinct constructs, with the UEF-1 demonstrating superior ecological validity and utility for diagnosing the real-world application of EF in the academic context.