Factor Structure of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Children: A Brief Report Supplement

Abstract

The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) is the first factor-analyzed neuropsychological battery and consists of three batteries for young children, older children, and adults. Halstead's original factor analysis extracted four factors from the adult version of the battery, which were the basis for his theory of biological intelligence. These factors were called Central Integrative Field, Abstraction, Power, and Directional. Since this original analysis, Reitan's additions to the battery, and the development of the child versions of the test, this factor-analytic research continued. An introduction and the adult literature are reviewed in Ross, Allen, and Goldstein (in press). In this supplemental article, factor-analytic studies of the HRNB with children are reviewed. It is concluded that factor analysis of the HRNB or Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Battery with children does not replicate the extensiveness of the adult literature, although there is some evidence that when the traditional battery for older children is used, the factor structure is similar to what is found in adult studies. Reitan's changes to the battery appear to have added factors including language and sensory-perceptual factors. When other tests and scoring methods are used in addition to the core battery, differing solutions are produced.

Key words:

• factor analysis
• Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Older Children
• neuropsychological assessment
• Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Battery

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Indebtedness is expressed to the Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and the Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, for support of this research.

Notes

NC = normal controls; LD = learning disabilities/concerns. WISC/WISC-R = Wechsler Intelligence Scale-Revised. BD = Block Design; PA = Picture Arrangement; OA = Object Assembly; I = Information; C = Comprehension; A = Arithmetic; S = Similarities; V = Vocabulary; DSp = Digit Span; PC = Picture Completion; CD = Coding. RINB: D = Dominant; N = Nondominant; T = time; DT = Dominant Time; NT = Nondominant Time; E = errors. CT = Category Test; TPT = Tactual Performance Test, TPT-M = TPT Memory, TPT-LO = TPT Location; FT = Finger Tapping; GS = Grip Strength; SPE = Sensory-Perceptual Examination; CF = Color Form; MP = Matching Pictures; MF = Matching Figures; MV = Matching Vs. WRAT = Wide Range Achievement Test; PCA = principal components analysis.

NC = normal controls, LD = learning disabilities/concerns. WISC/WISC-R = Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. BD = Block Design; PA = Picture Arrangement; OA = Object Assembly; I = Information; C = Comprehension; A = Arithmetic; S = Similarities; V = Vocabulary; DSp = Digit Span; PC = Picture Completion. HRNB-C: D = Dominant; N = Nondominant; L = left; R = right; B = both; T = time; DT = Dominant Time; NT = Nondominant time; E = errors; NE = Nondominant errors. CT = Category Test; TPT = Tactual Performance Test; TPT-M = TPT Memory; TPT-LO = TPT Location; FT = Finger Tapping; GS = Grip Strength; SPE = Sensory-Perceptual Examination; CF = Color Form; MP = Matching Pictures; MF = Matching Figures; MV = Matching Vs; SSPT = Speech Sounds Perception Test; RT = Rhythm Test; TMT-A = Trail-Making Test-A, TMT-B = Trail-Making Test-B; GP = Grooved Pegboard. PCA = principal components analysis; CFA = confirmatory factor analysis; WRAT = Wide Range Achievement Test; PPVT = Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test.