Concurrent validity of the general ability measure for adults (gama) with sudden-onset neurological impairment

The General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA; Naglieri & Bardos, 1997) is a nonverbal brief measure of cognitive ability. Brief measures of cognitive ability are important in the assessment of individuals with impaired or limited test-taking skills. A sample of 50 adults with sudden-onset neurological impairment was compared to a demographically matched control group. The neurologically impaired adults scored significantly lower (t (98) = 6.2, p < .001) on the GAMA than did the control group. The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT; Kaufman & Kaufman, 1990) was also administered to the neurologically impaired group. The K-BIT scores correlated significantly with the GAMA Total IQ score (K-BIT IQ, r = .59, p < .001; Matrices, r = .64, p < .001; Vocabulary, r = .30, p < .05). The study's findings suggested that the GAMA can be used successfully as a screening measure of cognitive ability with individuals with neurological impairment using a nonverbal means that is not dependent on prior academic knowledge or linguistic ability.