Standardization of tests of attention and inhibition

• Main Authors: Susan Thomas, Shobini L Rao, B Indira Devi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2016-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
• Subjects: Attention; inhibition; norms; reliability; standardization; validity
• Online Access: http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2016;volume=38;issue=4;spage=320;epage=325;aulast=Thomas

Aim: The aim of the study was to standardize tests of attention and inhibition for adults in the age range of 16–30 years, who had 1–10 years of formal education. The objectives were to develop normative data for the tests of attention and inhibition, to establish the reliability of the tests of attention and inhibition, and to establish the validity of the tests of attention and inhibition. Materials and Methods: The tests studied were figural visual scanning test (FVST), auditory target detection test (ATDT), stop signal test, and go/no-go (GNG) test. The four tests were given to a normal sample of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females). Reliability of the tests was determined by retesting 20 individuals, (10 subjects from each group) from the sample after an interval of 1 month. The tests were given to a matched clinical sample of patients with unilateral focal lesions, and the results were compared to test discriminant validity. Means, standard deviations, t-test, correlations, and percentiles were used to analyze the data. Results and Conclusion: Results indicated that FVST and ATDT were reliable and valid tests of attention and stop signal test and GNG test were reliable and valid measures of inhibition of motor processes.