Construct validity of neuropsychological tests of conceptual and attentional abilities

J Clin Psychol. 1994 Jul;50(4):596-600. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(199407)50:4<596::aid-jclp2270500416>3.0.co;2-s.

Abstract

In a mixed sample of community-living adults, this study examined the construct validity of five neuropsychological tests: Category Test (CAT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT), Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Trail Making Test: Part B (TMT-B). Principal components analyses showed that PASAT, VSAT, and TMT-B defined an attention factor and that CAT and WCST defined a conceptual factor. The results were discussed in terms of common interpretations of these procedures as well as in terms of Mirsky's (1989) components of attention.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aptitude*
  • Attention*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / rehabilitation
  • Concept Formation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Learning Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Learning Disabilities / psychology
  • Learning Disabilities / rehabilitation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results