The d2 Test of attention: construct validity and extensions in scoring techniques.

Area of Science:

• Psychological Assessment
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuropsychology

Background:

• The d2 Test is a widely used cancellation test for assessing attention and concentration.
• Understanding the psychometric properties of the d2 Test is crucial for accurate cognitive assessment.
• Previous research has established some validity, but further examination of its internal consistency and specific validity types is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the internal consistency and convergent-discriminant validity of the d2 Test in a U.S. adult sample.
• To explore the influence of test-taking strategy, gender, and education on d2 Test performance.
• To introduce and validate new process scores for assessing performance constancy, acceleration, and deterioration.

Main Methods:

• Administered the d2 Test to 364 U.S. adults.
• Utilized statistical analyses to assess internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach's alpha).
• Examined convergent and discriminant validity by correlating d2 Test scores with related measures and exploring demographic influences.

Main Results:

• The d2 Test demonstrated strong internal consistency and validity as a measure of visual scanning accuracy and speed.
• Overall performance scores correlated significantly with a proxy measure of test-taking strategy.
• New process measures for acceleration and deterioration showed evidence of convergent validity.

Conclusions:

• The d2 Test is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating visual scanning speed and accuracy in adults.
• Test-taking strategies appear to influence performance, warranting further investigation.
• The newly developed process measures hold promise for a more nuanced understanding of attentional processes.