Executive Function Beyond Minority World Contexts: A Call for Culturally Relevant Assessments in Historically Overlooked Populations in Majority World Countries

ABSTRACT Executive function (EF) is crucial in cognitive development, yet current research remains focused on Minority world societies, overlooking the diverse populations in underrepresented countries. This manuscript addresses the cultural biases in widely used EF assessments and the need for culturally relevant tools from a Latin American perspective. By examining overlooked populations in the majority world countries, I argue that current EF evaluation methods fail to account for the cultural and socioeconomic contexts that shape cognitive performance. Through examples from Brazil and similar contexts, this paper underscores the urgency of adapting EF assessments to reflect human diversity. I propose specific recommendations, including cross‐cultural collaborations, mixed‐method approaches, engaging local communities in the design of assessments, and the development of context‐specific norms. By addressing these gaps, the field of EF research can advance toward a more inclusive and accurate understanding of cognitive development across diverse global populations.

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Publication Details

Journal
Mind Brain and Education
Published
2025-12-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.70034
Primary Topic
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Executive Function Beyond Minority World Contexts: A Call for Culturally Relevant Assessments in Historically Overlooked Populations in Majority World Countries

Paulo Guirro Laurence
Mind Brain and Education
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
article

Executive Function Beyond Minority World Contexts: A Call for Culturally Relevant Assessments in Historically Overlooked Populations in Majority World Countries

Paulo Guirro Laurence
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Executive function (EF) is crucial in cognitive development, yet current research remains focused on Minority world societies, overlooking the diverse populations in underrepresented countries. This manuscript addresses the cultural biases in widely used EF assessments and the need for culturally relevant tools from a Latin American perspective. By examining overlooked populations in the majority world countries, I argue that current EF evaluation methods fail to account for the cultural and socioeconomic contexts that shape cognitive performance. Through examples from Brazil and similar contexts, this paper underscores the urgency of adapting EF assessments to reflect human diversity. I propose specific recommendations, including cross‐cultural collaborations, mixed‐method approaches, engaging local communities in the design of assessments, and the development of context‐specific norms. By addressing these gaps, the field of EF research can advance toward a more inclusive and accurate understanding of cognitive development across diverse global populations.

Mind Brain and EducationVol. 20(1)
Universidade Federal do ABC (BR)
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
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