Auditory Consonant Trigrams: A Psychometric Update†

Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2016 Feb;31(1):47-57. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acv083. Epub 2015 Dec 7.

Abstract

The Auditory Consonant Trigrams (ACT) test was developed to evaluate immediate memory in the absence of rehearsal. There are few psychometric studies of the measure and a lack of normative data using samples from the United States or Veterans. ACT data were examined for 184 participants who passed the Word Memory Test, denied a history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and consented for research purposes only. Reliability and construct validity were examined and normative data developed using a healthy subsample. Cronbach's α for the ACT total score was 0.79. Regression analyses suggested that years of education, estimated premorbid IQ, psychomotor speed, working memory, and impulsivity had the strongest relationships with performance on the ACT. Performance was unrelated to posttraumatic stress disorder and remote mild TBI, but the presence of major depressive disorder was associated with lower total scores. These results demonstrate the ACT has adequate psychometric properties.

Keywords: ACT; Auditory Consonant Trigrams; Psychometric; Reliability; Validity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards*
  • Psychometrics / standards*
  • Reference Values
  • Social Validity, Research
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Young Adult