Introduction: Over the last decades, interactive technologies appeared a promising solution in the ecological evaluation of executive functioning. We have developed the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), a new instrument that exploits 360° technologies to provide an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning.
Aim: This work wanted to evaluate the convergent validity of the EXIT 360°, comparing it with traditional neuropsychological tests (NPS) for executive functioning.
Methods: Seventy-seven healthy subjects underwent an evaluation that involved: (1) a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment, (2) an EXIT 360° session, involving seven subtasks delivered by VR headset, and (3) a usability assessment. To evaluate convergent validity, statistical correlation analyses were performed between NPS and EXIT 360° scores.
Results: The data showed that participants had completed the whole task in about 8 min, with 88.3% obtaining a high total score (≥12). Regarding convergent validity, the data revealed a significant correlation between the EXIT 360° total score and all NPS. Furthermore, data showed a correlation between the EXIT 360° total reaction time and timed neuropsychological tests. Finally, the usability assessment showed a good score.
Conclusion: This work appears as a first validation step towards considering the EXIT 360° as a standardized instrument that uses 360° technologies to conduct an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the EXIT 360° in discriminating between healthy control subjects and patients with executive dysfunctions.
Keywords: 360° environments; 360° videos; convergent validity; executive functions; psychometric assessment; virtual reality.