The Woodock–Johnson V Symbol Inhibition test is a measure of the inhibiting and updating aspects of executive functioning, developed for administration on the new Riverside Score™ digital platform. This paper describes the development of the Symbol Inhibition test, including the test design, norming and validity study data collection, development of the novel scoring model, and the results of the concurrent and clinical validity study analyses. Preliminary findings suggest that the Symbol Inhibition test, while moderately correlated with overall measures of cognitive ability (g), measures a latent trait distinct from the other broad CHC abilities measured in the WJ V.
BaggettaP.AlexanderP. A. (2016). Conceptualization and operationalization of executive function. Mind, Brain and Education, 10(1), 10–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12100
2.
BensonN. F.FloydR. G.KranzlerJ. H.EckertT. L.FeferS. A.MorganG. B. (2019). Test use and assessment practices of school psychologists in the United States: Findings from the 2017 national survey. Journal of School Psychology, 92, 29–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2018.12.004
3.
BerlinL.BohlinG.RydellA. M. (2004). Relations between inhibition, executive functioning, and ADHD symptoms: A longitudinal study from age 5 to 8½ years. Child Neuropsychology: A Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence, 9(4), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1076/chin.9.4.255.23519
4.
BestJ. R.MillerP. H.NaglieriJ. A. (2011). Relations between executive function and academic achievement from ages 5 to 17 in a large, representative national sample. Learning and Individual Differences, 21(4), 327–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2011.01.007
5.
BoothJ. N.BoyleJ. M. E.KellyS. W. (2010). Do tasks make a difference? Accounting for heterogeneity of performance of children with reading difficulties on tasks of executive function: Findings from a meta-analysis. The British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 28(1), 133–176. https://doi.org/10.1348/026151009X485432
6.
ConnersC. K. (2014). Conners continuous performance test (3rd Edition). Multi-Health Systems.
7.
ConnersC. K. (2022). Conners (4th Edition). Multi-Health Systems.
8.
DeckerS. L.DavisA. S.EasonM.BridgesR.VaselL. M. (2016). Assessment of executive functions using the Woodcock-Johnson IV tests of cognitive abilities (Woodcock-Johnson IV assessment service bulletin no. 9). Riverside Assessments: LLC.
9.
DelisD. C.KaplanE.KramerJ. H. (2001). Delis-Kaplan executive function system. Pearson.
10.
DemetriouE. A.DeMayoM. M.GuastellaA. J. (2019). Executive function in autism spectrum disorder: History, theoretical models, empirical findings, and potential as an endophenotype. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 753. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00753
11.
DiamondA. (2005). Attention-deficit disorder (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder without hyperactivity): A neurobiologically and behaviorally distinct disorder from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (with hyperactivity). Development and Psychopathology, 17(3), 807–825. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579405050388
DixonT.KravaritiE.FrithC.MurrayR. M.McGuireP. K. (2004). Effect of symptoms on executive function in bipolar illness. Psychological Medicine, 34(5), 811–821. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291703001570
DuncanG. J.DowsettC. J.ClaessensA.MagnusonK.HustonA. C.KlebanovP.PaganiL. S.FeinsteinL.EngelM.Brooks-GunnJ.SextonH.DuckworthK.JapelC. (2007). School readiness and later achievement. Developmental Psychology, 43(6), 1428–1446. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.6.1428
16.
FriedmanN. P.MiyakeA.RobinsonJ. L.HewittJ. K. (2011). Developmental trajectories in toddlers’ self-restraint predict individual differences in executive functions 14 years later: A behavioral genetic analysis. Developmental Psychology, 47(5), 1410–1430. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023750
17.
FureyR. T.BowdenS. C.JewsburyP. A.SudarshanN. J.ConnollyM. L. (2024). Investigating the latentstructure of executive function in the Delis–Kaplan executive function system using Cattell–Horn–Carrolltheory. Assessment, 31(2), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911231161779
18.
GioiaG. A.IsquithP. K.GuyS. C.KenworthyL. (2015). Behavior rating inventory of executive function, second edition. Psychological Assessment Resources.
19.
GoldenC. J.FreshwaterS. M.SyzdekB. M.AilesE. L. (2022). Stroop color and word test for children normative update. Stoelting.
20.
JewsburyP. A.BowdenS. C.StraussM. E. (2016). Integrating the switching, inhibition, and updating model of executive function with the Cattell-Horn-Carroll model. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 145(2), 220–245. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000119
21.
KaufmanA. S.KaufmanN. L.DrozdickL. W.MorrisonJ. (2018). Manual supplement. In Kaufman assessment battery for children (2nd ed.). Normative Update. Pearson.
22.
LaForteE. M.DaileyD.McGrewK. S. (2025). Technical manual. Woodcock-Johnson V. Riverside Assessments: LLC.
23.
LeeK.BullR.HoR. M. H. (2013). Developmental changes in executive functioning. Child Development, 84(6), 1933–1953. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12096
24.
LemannE. R.DavisA. S.FinchW. H.PiersonE. E. (2019). Evaluating the relation between CHC cognitive factors and selected components of executive functioning. Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology, 5(4), 152–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40817-019-00073-3
25.
LockwoodA. B.BensonN.FarmerR. L.KlatkaK. (2022). Test use and assessment practices of school psychology training programs: Findings from a 2020 survey of US faculty. Psychology in the Schools, 59(4), 698–725. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22639
26.
McGrewK.SchrankF. A.LaForteE. M. (2014). Technical manual. Woodcock-Johnson IV. Riverside Assessments: LLC.
27.
McGrewK. S.MatherN.LaForteE. M.WendlingB. J. (2025). Woodcock-Johnson V. Riverside Assessments: LLC.
28.
MiyakeA.EmersonM. J.FriedmanN. P. (2000). Assessment of executive functions in clinical settings: Problems and recommendations. Seminars in Speech and Language, 17(2), 0169–0183. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2000-7563
29.
MiyakeA.FriedmanN. P. (2012). The nature and organization of individual differences in executive functions: Four general conclusions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721411429458
30.
RegevS.JosmanN. (2020). Evaluation of executive functions and everyday life for people with severe mental illness: A systematic review. Schizophrenia Research. Cognition, 21, Article 100178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2020.100178
31.
ReynoldsC. R.HortonM. A.Jr (2008). Assessing executive functions: A life-span perspective. Psychology in the Schools, 45(9), 875–892. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20332
32.
ReynoldsC. R.KamphausR. W. (2015). Reynolds intellectual assessment scales (2nd ed.) and Reynolds intellectual screening test (2nd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.
33.
SalthouseT. A.DavisH. P. (2006). Organization of cognitive abilities and neuropsychological variables across the lifespan. Developmental Review, 26(1), 31–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2005.09.001
34.
SchmeichelB. J.TangD. (2015). Individual differences in executive functioning and their relationship to emotional processes and responses. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24(2), 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414555178
35.
SchneiderW. J.McGrewK. S. (2018). The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory of cognitive abilities. In FlanaganD. P.McDonoughE. M. (Eds.), Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (4th ed., pp. 73–163). Guilford Press.
36.
SchrankF. A.McGrewK. S.MatherN. (2014). Woodcock-Johnson IV. Riverside Assessments: LLC.
37.
Smith-SparkJ. H.HenryL. A.MesserD. J.EdvardsdottirE.ZięcikA. P. (2016). Executive functions in adults with developmental dyslexia. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 53(54), 323–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.03.001
38.
StaufferJ. M.MendozaJ. L. (2001). The proper sequence for correcting correlation coefficients for range restriction and unreliability. Psychometrika, 66(1), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02295732
39.
SudikoffE. L.BertolinM.LordoD. N.KaufmanD. A. S. (2015). Relationships between executive function and emotional regulation in healthy children. Journal of Neurological Psychology, S(2), 8.
40.
TitzC.KarbachJ. (2014). Working memory and executive functions: Effects of training on academic achievement. Psychological Research, 78(6), 852–868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-013-0537-1
41.
WechslerD. (2014). Wechsler intelligence scale for children (5th ed.). Pearson.
42.
WoodcockR. W. (1999). What can Rasch-based scores convey about a person’s test performance? In EmbretsonS. E.HershbergerS. L. (Eds.), The new rules of measurement: What every psychologist and educator should know (pp. 105–127). Lawrence Erlbaum.
43.
WoodcockR. W.DahlM. N. (1971). A common scale for the measurement of person ability and test item difficulty. Pearson. (AGS Paper No. 10).
44.
WoodcockR. W.McGrewK. S.MatherN. (2001). Woodcock-Johnson III. Riverside assessments: LLC.
