Abstract
study presents a systematic review of validity evidence for neuropsychological batteries. Studies published in international databases between 2005 and 2012 were examined. Considering the specificity of neuropsychological batteries, the aim of the study was to review the statistical analyses and procedures that have been used to validate these instruments. A total of 1,218 abstracts were read, of which 147 involved studies of neuropsychological batteries or tests that evaluated at least three cognitive processes. The full text of each article was analyzed according to publication year, focal instrument of the study, sample type, sample age range, characterization of the participants, and procedures and analyses used to provide evidence of validity. The results showed that the studies primarily analyzed patterns of convergence and divergence by correlating the instruments with other tests. Measures of reliability, such as internal consistency and test-retest reliability, were also frequently employed. To provide evidence of relationships between test scores and external criteria, the most common procedures were evaluations of sensitivity and specificity, and comparisons were made between contrasting groups. The statistical analyses frequently used were Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, Pearson correlation, and Cronbach's alpha. We discuss the necessity of incorporating both classic and modern psychometric procedures and presenting a broader scope of validity evidence, which would represent progress in this field. Finally, we hope our findings will help researchers better plan the validation process for new neuropsychological instruments and batteries. Keywords: neuropsychological assessment, validity, reliability, systematic review.
Highlights
Brazilian neuropsychology researchers are increasingly interested in developing and adapting instruments based on evidence of validity (AbrisquetaGomez, Ostrosky-Solis, Bertolucci, & Bueno, 2008; Caldas, Zunzunegui, Freire, & Guerra, 2012; CarodArtal, Martínez-Martin, Kummer, & Ribeiro, 2008; Carvalho, Barbosa, & Caramelli, 2010; Fonseca, Salles, & Parente, 2008; Pawlowski, Fonseca, Salles, Parente, & Bandeira, 2008)
The search for articles with the simultaneous use of the key words “neuropsychological assessment” and “validity” resulted in 1,218 abstracts published in scientific journals between January 2005 and December 2012
This paper presents a systematic review of studies that assessed evidence of the validity of neuropsychological assessment batteries published in international databases between 2005 and 2012
Summary
Brazilian neuropsychology researchers are increasingly interested in developing and adapting instruments based on evidence of validity (AbrisquetaGomez, Ostrosky-Solis, Bertolucci, & Bueno, 2008; Caldas, Zunzunegui, Freire, & Guerra, 2012; CarodArtal, Martínez-Martin, Kummer, & Ribeiro, 2008; Carvalho, Barbosa, & Caramelli, 2010; Fonseca, Salles, & Parente, 2008; Pawlowski, Fonseca, Salles, Parente, & Bandeira, 2008). The validation process for psychological instruments includes different procedures and statistical techniques to evaluate psychometric properties (Pasquali, 2010; Urbina, 2004). Many neuropsychological instruments include tasks that evaluate different cognitive domains, and they require distinct validation techniques compared with regular scales, such as the Likert scale. A brief discussion of psychometric procedures that are used to provide evidence of the validity of neuropsychological assessment batteries can be found in Pawlowski, Trentini, & Bandeira (2007)
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