A revision of the intermediate version of the Halstead category test
Date
1969
Authors
Kilpatrick, Doreen Leila
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Abstract
Research studies have confirmed that the HCT is a valid indicator of brain damage in adults (Reitan, 1955; Wheeler, Burke & Reitan, 1963; Spreen & Benton, 1965; Shaw , 1966). However, in several studies employing the intermediate version of the HCT (a modification of the HCT designed for children between the ages of 9 and 15 years) results have indicated that the test is not a good discriminator of brain damage in children (Reed, Reitan & Kløve , 1965; Reed & Fitzhugh, 1966; Knights & Ogilvie, 1967).
Simmel & Counts (1957) investigated the learning aspects in the HCT and questioned its validity both as a test of learning and as a test of abstraction. Many of their criticisms may be applied to the HCT Intermediate.
In the present study the HCT Intermediate was administered to 389 Ss, 336 normal and 53 brain damaged, between the ages of 9 and 15 years. The data from the 6 age groups was combined into two groups of normal and brain damaged Ss 9 to 11 and 12 to 15 years.
The test was analysed to determine a) the clinical validity of the test in differentiating brain damaged from normal children, b) the validity of the test as a measure of the ability to form abstract concepts and c) the content validity of the HCT Intermediate as a test of learning.
The reliability of the HCT Intermediate was estimated to be .95 (split half method).
With a view to reorganization and restandardization of the HCT Intermediate a statistical analysis was performed on the data which included item analysis, computation of mean subtest and total test error scores, computation of correlation coefficients between subtest scores and subtest-total test scores.
On the basis of the statistical analysis the HCT Intermediate was shortened from 168 items (6 subtests) to a revised version of 80 items (4 subtests). Items were redistributed in the revised version. The predictions were that 1) the revised version would show no significant loss in reliability and 2) the result of the re-ordering of items would be a consistent upward trend in proportion passing scores throughout the items in the revised version.
The reliability of the revised version was estimated to be .86, indicating that there was no significant loss in reliability with the revised test.
The revised version demonstrated an improved upward trend in learning over the original HCT Intermediate, as demonstrated in proportion passing scores.