Abstract
Among embedded measures of performance validity, reaction time parameters appear to be less common. However, their potential may be underestimated. In the German-speaking countries, reaction time is often examined using the Alertness subtest of the Test of Attention Performance (TAP). Several previous studies have examined its suitability for validity assessment. The current study was conceived to examine a variety of reaction time parameters of the TAP Alertness subtest with a sample of 266 Austrian civil forensic patients. Classification results from the Word Memory Test (WMT) were used as an external indicator to distinguish between valid and invalid symptom presentations. Results demonstrated that the WMT fail group performed worse in reaction time as well as its intraindividual variation across trials when compared to the WMT pass group. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed areas under the curve of .775–.804. Logistic regression models indicated the parameter intraindividual variation of motor reaction time with warning sound as being the best predictor for invalid test performance. Suggested cut scores yielded a sensitivity of .62 and a specificity of .90, or .45 and .95, respectively, when the accepted false-positive rate was set lower. The results encourage the use of the Alertness subtest as an embedded measure of performance validity.
Highlights
Symptom validity tests (SVTs) and performance validity tests (PVTs) play an increasingly important role in the context of neuropsychological research as well as in clinical and forensic practice
In accordance with previous studies (Bodenburg, 2014; Fiene et al, 2015), we investigated the ability of the Test of Attention Performance (TAP) Alertness subtest to be analyzed as an embedded validity measure
About half of the participants (51.3%) with complete Word Memory Test (WMT) data who failed on the primary validity measures of the test (Immediate Recognition, Delayed Recognition, and Consistency) presented with a difference between easy and hard subtests of at least 30
Summary
Archival data stemming from independent neuropsychological evaluations of patients claiming early retirement due to significant cognitive impairment were analyzed.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
