ERIC Number: EJ889009
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: N/A
Order of Conners' CPT-II Administration within a Cognitive Test Battery Influences ADHD Indices
Erdodi, Laszlo A.; Lajiness-O'Neill, Renee; Saules, Karen K.
Journal of Attention Disorders, v14 n1 p43-51 July 2010
Objective: To study the effect of administration sequence on Conner's continuous performance test (CPT-II) scores in clients requesting psychological assessment. It was hypothesized that when administered at the end rather than beginning of a test battery, the test scores will show higher symptom severity. If present, order effects may cause the over- or underdiagnosing of ADHD. Method: Participants were recruited at a Midwestern university's training clinic (16 men, 9 women; mean age = 22.4, SD = 10.2). The CPT-II was administered twice to each client: once at the beginning of the testing session and once at the end of their appointment. The clients completed at least a full Wechsler intelligence battery in between the CPT-II administrations. Results: Clients' ADHD index score (interpreted as percent confidence in an ADHD diagnosis) is more impaired at Time 2 (M = 53.3, SD = 29.0) compared to Time 1 (M = 39.4, SD = 22.5): t (24) = 3.93, p less than 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.79. The number of T-scores above 60 on the subscales also changed from Time 1 (M = 1.92, SD = 1.73) to Time 2 (M = 3.12, SD = 2.05): t(24) = 3.47, p less than 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.71. Conclusions: If the CPT-II is administered later in a sequence of tests, it is more likely to yield scores in the impaired range. Order effects are more pronounced in individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Recommendations include the adoption of a standardized administration sequence, further research to investigate the nature of order effects, and a strategic use of order effects in ADHD assessment. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Psychological Evaluation, Psychological Testing, Performance Tests, Cognitive Tests, Scores, Attention Deficit Disorders, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Severity (of Disability), Identification, Test Results
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A