An equivalence study of four computerised neuropsychological tests

Abstract

Four neuropsychological tests were adapted for use on a microcomputer. These tests were the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Corsi Block Tapping Test, Verbal Recognition Test and a Verbal Recency Test. Conventional and computerised versions of these tests were administered in a counterbalanced order to two groups of 16 subjects. Results of the study indicated that mean and standard deviation equivalence was established for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Verbal Recognition Test and the Verbal Recency Test. There was, however, a significant difference between mean levels of recall on the two versions of the Corsi Block Tapping Test. Only medium correlations were obtained between scores on the conventional and computerised versions of the Corsi Block, Verbal Recognition and Verbal Recency tests. A correlation on the Wisconsin was not carried out due to learning across test presentations. These results indicate that the computerised Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Verbal Recency Test and Verbal Recognition Test are equivalent to their conventional counterparts for means and standard deviations, but the low correlations between conventional and computer versions imply uncertain clinical utility for the latter.