Abstract
The goal of this study was to evaluate the construct and criterion-related validity of the PASAT in 441 adults referred for evaluation of possible closed-head injury (mean age of 32.7 years, SD = 12.4). Convergent evidence for the construct validity of the PASAT as an attention test was stronger than divergent evidence. Although the PASAT correlated with several measures of attention, tests tapping mathematical knowledge accounted for a substantial amount of variance in PASAT scores. Further, other tests measuring conceptually unrelated abilities, such as verbal ability, academic achievement, verbal memory, and complex motor skills were also moderately correlated with PASAT performance. The slower PASAT presentation rate was also related to one test of visual memory and to one test of visual-spatial ability. These results suggest that PASAT performance is related to several cognitive abilities other than attention and processing speed. PASAT scores were not related to criterion-related indices of head injury severity. Limitations regarding construct validity are discussed, as are preliminary clinical guidelines for interpretation of the PASAT.
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