PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Michael Lopez

MA-Research
May 1997

Psychometric Properties of the Halstead Category Test

    Using the Kuder-Richardson 20 formula (KR-20) corrected for item difficulty, the internal consistency reliability of the Halstead Category Test (HCT) was calculated for the following groups: normal patients and volunteers (n = 197), diffusely brain-damaged patients (n = 106), and undiagnosed patients sent for neuropsychological assessment (n = 95).  The reliability coefficients, based on the total sample, for the HCT Total Score and Subtests III to VII were acceptable (≥ .70)  The Total Score, which is the most widely used clinical score from the HCT, had a reliability coefficient of .9716.  The reliability of Subtests I (.4587) and II (.6538) were found to be unacceptable (<.70).  An item analysis was conducted to determine item difficulty and the discrimination index.  Most of the test items, except for those from Subtests I and II, were within established criteria for item difficulty and the discrimination index.

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