Attention Network Test (ANT)
The ANT is a task designed to test three attentional networks in children and adults: alerting, orienting, and executive control. Efficiency of the alerting network is examined by changes in reaction time resulting from a warning signal. Efficiency of orienting is examined by changes in the reaction time that accompany cues indicating where the target will occur. The efficiency of the executive network is examined by requiring the participant to respond by pressing two keys indicating the direction (left or right) of a central arrow surrounded by congruent, incongruent or neutral flankers.
Note: The ANT is administered to children and adults ages 6-85 years old.
References: Fan, J., McCandliss, B. D., Sommer, T., Raz, A., & Posner, M. I. (2002). Testing the efficiency and independence of attentional networks. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 14(3), 340-7. doi:10.1162/089892902317361886
The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ)
The CFQ is a 25-item self-report questionnaire assessing failures in perception, memory, and motor function in the completion of everyday tasks in the past 6 months. Individuals are asked to rate the frequency experiences and behaviors on a 5-point scale: 0-Never, 1-Very rarely, 2-Ocassionally, 3-Quite often, 4-Very often.
Note: This self-assessment is given to adolescents and adults participants ages 16–85 years old.
References:Broadbent, D. E., Cooper, P. F., FitzGerald, P., & Parkes, K. R. (1982). The cognitive failures questionnaire (CFQ) and its correlates. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21(1), 1-16.
Rast, P., Zimprich, D., Van Boxtel, M., & Jolles, J. (2009). Factor structure and measurement invariance of the cognitive failures questionnaire across the adult life span. Assessment, 16(2), 145-58.
The Conners ADHD Rating Scale 3 – Parent Short Form
The Conners ADHD Rating Scale 3 Parent Short Form is a 43-item parent report designed to assess attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and evaluate problem behavior in children and adolescents (ages 6 to 18). The measure evaluates inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, learning problems/executive functioning, aggression, and peer relations. Parents are asked to rate statements about their child in the past month on a 4-point scale: 0-Not true at all (Never, Seldom), 1-Just a little true (Occasionally), 2-Pretty much true (Often, Quite a bit), 3-Very much true (Very often, very frequently).
Note: This self-assessment is given to guardians of child participants ages 6-17 years old.
References: Conners, K. C. (2008). Conners 3rd edition. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
The Conners ADHD Rating Scale 3 – Youth Short Form
The Conners ADHD Rating Scale 3 Youth Short Form is a 39-item self-report for children and adolescents (ages 8 to 18) assessing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and problem behaviors. Evaluates inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, learning problems, aggression, and family relations. Children are asked to rate statements about themselves in the past month on a 4-point scale: 0-Not true at all (Never, Seldom), 1-Just a little true (Occasionally), 2-Pretty much true (Often, Quite a bit), 3-Very much true (Very often, very frequently).
Note: This self-assessment is given to child and adolescent participants ages 8-18 years old.
References: Conners, K. C. (2008). Conners 3rd edition. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System (D-KEFS)
The D-KEFS is a set of 9 standardized tests that are designed to evaluate higher-level cognitive functions in children and adults. The 9 stand-alone tests comprehensively assess the key components of executive functions believed to be mediated primarily by the frontal lobe. The tests include: Trail Making, Verbal Fluency, Design Fluency, Color-Word Interference, Sorting, Twenty Questions, Word Context, Tower, Proverb Test. The D-KEFS is administered by trained study staff and hand scored.
Note: This assessment is administered to all participants ages 8-85 years old. The Proverb Test is only administered to participants ages 16-85 years old.
References: Delis, D. C., Kaplan, E., & Kramer, J. H. (2001b). Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) examiner’s manual (pp. 1-218). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Delis, D. C., & Kramer, J. H. (2004). Reliability and validity of the delis-kaplan executive function system: An update. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 10(2), 301-303.
Penn CNP
The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery is a computerized battery that takes an average of one hour to complete and provides measures of accuracy and speed in nine neurocognitive domains: abstraction/flexibility, attention, working memory, episodic memory, language, spatial, sensorimotor, motor speed, and emotion identification.
References: Gur, R.C., et al. (2009). A cognitive neuroscience-based computerized battery for efficient measurement of individual differences: Standardization and initial construct validation. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 187(2010), 254-262.
Older Adult Self Report (OASR)
The OASR is a 127-item self-administered instrument designed for older adults (ages 60-90) that examines diverse aspects of adaptive functioning and problems. Participants are asked to review a list of items that describe people, and select the best answer to describe themselves over the past two months on a 3-point scale: 0-Not true, 1-Somewhat or Sometimes True, 2-Very True or Often True. The questionnaire provides scores for the following syndrome scales: anxious/depressed, worries, somatic complaints, functional impairment, memory/cognition problems, thought problems, and irritable/disinhibited. The questionnaire provides scores for the following DSM-oriented scales: depressive problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, dementia problems, psychotic problems, and antisocial personality problems. Additionally, the questionnaire asks about their use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
Note: This assessment is given to participants ages 60-85 years old. The adaptive functioning scales are not included.
References: Achenbach, T. M., Newhouse, P.A., & Rescorla, L. A. (2004). Manual for the ASEBA Older Adult Forms & Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families.
The Grooved Pegboard
The Grooved Pegboard is a dexterity test consisting of 25 holes with randomly positioned slots. Pegs with a key on one side must be rotated to match the hole before they can be inserted. Participants are instructed to place all pegs into the 25 holes, picking up one at a time, and using just one hand. They complete the test first using their dominant hand, and then their non-dominant hand. Time of completion for the first line, total completion time, number of drops, and number of pegs placed, are recorded for both hands. This test is used extensively to evaluate lateralized brain damage in children and adults, or whenever manual dexterity is an issue.
Note: This is administered to all participants, aged 6-85 years old.
References: Lafayette Instruments (2002). Grooved pegboard test user instructions.
Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II)
The WASI is a general intelligence, or IQ test designed to assess specific and overall cognitive capabilities and is individually administered to children, adolescents and adults (ages 6-89). It is a battery of four subtests: Vocabulary (31-item), Block Design (13-item), Similarities (24-item) and Matrix Reasoning (30-item). In addition to assessing general, or Full Scale, intelligence, the WASI is also designed to provide estimates of Verbal and Performance intelligence consistent with other Wechsler tests. Specifically, the four subtests comprise the full scale and yield the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ-4). The Vocabulary and Similarities subtests are combined to form the Verbal Scale and yield a Verbal IQ (VIQ) score, and the Block Design and Matrix Reasoning subtests form the Performance Scale and yield a Performance IQ (PIQ) score.
Note: This test is administered to participants ages 6-85 years old.
References: Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test – Second Edition Abbreviated (WIAT-IIA)
The WIAT is a brief achievement test, which is individually administered to children, adolescents and adults (ages 4-85). It is composed of three subtests: Word Reading (131-items) ranging from phonological skills and letter recognition to word recognition, Numerical Operations (54-items) ranging from counting and number recognition to complex calculations involving equations, fractions, decimals, etc., and Spelling (53-items) ranging from single and blended sound dictation to word dictation. Items on all three subtests receive a score of 0- incorrect responses or 1-correct responses.
Note: This test is administered to participants ages 6-85 years old.
References: Wechsler, D. (2005). Wechsler Individual Achievement Test 2nd Edition (WIAT II). London: The Psychological Corporation.