THE CONSTRUCT SPECIFICITY OF THE CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE-TEST - DOES INATTENTION RELATE TO BEHAVIOR AND ACHIEVEMENT

A computerized version of the Continuous Performance Test(CPT) was adm inistered to 104 children, ages 6 to 16 years, referred to a medical c enter for learning difficulties. The CPT performance of children was e xamined in relation to the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised, the Pe abody Individual Achievement Test-Revised Reading Comprehension subtes t, the ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale, and the Conners Par ent Rating Scale. Correlations were computed to evaluate the relation between the CPT and all psychometric measures. Results indicated that the CPT was unrelated to academic functioning, but CPT commission erro rs correlated with behavioral measures: Commission errors were related to oppositional behavior and the Conners hyperactivity index, providi ng further evidence for the diagnostic utility of the CPT. Implication s for clinical neuropsychology practitioners were discussed.