def getElementDeclaration(self, attribute=None):
        """If attribute is None, "ref" is assumed, return the corresponding
        representation of the global element declaration (ElementDeclaration),
        To maintain backwards compat, if attribute is provided call base class method.
        """
        if attribute:
            return XMLSchemaComponent.getElementDeclaration(self, attribute)
        return XMLSchemaComponent.getElementDeclaration(self, 'ref')