Date of Award

Fall 12-1-1994

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Jerome Cerny

Second Advisor

Samuel Schnitzer

Third Advisor

Leslie Halpern

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how well Conners' (1992) Continuous Performance Test (CCPT) and Greenberg's (1991) Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) differentiated a clinical sample of 23 children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) from 36 non-ADHD children. The two versions of the continuous performance test (CPT) were also evaluated in terms of the children's perceptions of the two tasks. Results showed a significant difference on the CPT variables between the ADHD group and the group of children diagnosed with other clinical disorders. ADHD children committed fewer commission errors and had a significantly longer reaction time following a commission error on the CCPT than they did on the TOVA. Comparison of the CCPT and the TOVA indicated that the two did not differ significantly on four of the six CPT variables. The TOVA correctly predicted group classification at a slightly higher rate than the CCPT. The CCPT takes six to eight minutes less time to complete. The subjects demonstrated a strong preference for the CCPT over the TOVA. The CCPT can be purchased at a price four times lower than the TOVA. Results of discriminant analyses suggested that the CCPT and TOVA correctly differentiated between ADHD and non-ADHD children with only 64% and 68% accuracy. Implications from this study support the theory that CPT data should be utilized as a supplement to previously established ADHD assessment batteries. Results of this study helped clarify the usefulness of the TOVA and CCPT, as well as solidify the CPT as a significant contributor to the assessment of attention difficulties in children.

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