Using versions of the trail making test as alternate forms.

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Alternate forms of neuropsychological instruments are typically developed with similar psychometric properties.
• This study explores an alternative method for creating parallel forms of trail-making tests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if three distinct trail-making tests (DK-TMT, CTMT, CT) can serve as alternate forms.
• To determine if these tests share underlying factors and are invariant to administration order.

Main Methods:

• Administered the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System Trail Making Test (DK-TMT), Comprehensive Trail Making Test (CTMT), and Connections Task (CT) to 154 psychology students.
• Utilized six possible administration orders over a 3-week period.
• Performed statistical analyses to examine shared underlying factors and order invariance.

Main Results:

• The three trail-making tests share common underlying factors of sequencing and shifting.
• A two-factor model solution was statistically supported and found to be invariant across different test orders.
• No discernible practice effects were observed when tests were administered sequentially.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the use of DK-TMT, CTMT, and CT as interchangeable alternate forms in neuropsychological assessments.
• This flexibility enhances the utility of serial neuropsychological assessment batteries.
• The study provides statistical evidence for the interchangeability of these trail-making tests.