Using Versions of the Trail Making Test as Alternate Forms

Abstract

Alternate forms of neuropsychological instruments are often made parallel by developing tests with similar numbers of items, formats, and psychometric properties. The present study offers an alternative approach by examining three different trail-making tests that could potentially be used as alternate forms. Over a 3-week period, the Trail Making Test of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System (DK-TMT), Comprehensive Trail Making Test (CTMT), and Connections Task (CT) were individually administered to 154 undergraduate psychology students in each of six possible orders. Consistent with hypotheses, the three tests share the same underlying factors of sequencing and shifting as alternatives to one- and three-factor models; statistical evidence is provided to support that the two-factor solution is invariant regardless of test order. These findings support the notion that three different trail-making tests can be administered without discernable practice effects, increasing the flexibility of a serial neuropsychological assessment battery.

Keywords:

• Reliability
• Validity
• Psychometrics
• Neuropsychological tests

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the State University of New York at Plattsburgh's Presidential Research Award. The authors thank Drs. Yuelin Li & Timothy Konold for their helpful suggestions, and Jennifer Ashline, Maigan Brewer, Lucas Bridgeman, Raymond Drexel, Kevin Gent, Kyle Kowalowski, Harris Schachter, and Corey R. Davidson for their invaluable contributions to the study.