Características psicométricas del Test de Anillos para la evaluación atencional en niños: Resultados preliminares

Abstract

Los modelos neurocognitivos actuales definen a la atención como un sistema de control cognitivo responsable de la activación y organización jerárquica de los procesos encargados de elaborar la información. Juega un rol clave en el desempeño cognitivo infantil y en el aprendizaje escolar. Por ello, resulta importante disponer de instrumentos de evaluación, válidos y confiables, que permitan valorar el desempeño atencional en niños y niñas con mayor precisión. El propósito de este trabajo es analizar las propiedades psicométricas del Test de Anillos (TA), un nuevo instrumento diseñado para evaluar atención visual en niños. TA se ha construido utilizando el optotipo C de Landolt y sigue la estructura triestímulo propuesta por la prueba de percepción de similitudes y diferencias (CARAS). Es una prueba de papel y lápiz que se compone de 60 bloques de estímulos. La muestra estuvo conformada por 86 escolares entre 8-10 años de edad. Para el estudio de las propiedades psicométricas se analizó la validez convergente entre el TA y el Test CARAS y se examinó la estabilidad temporal para analizar la confiabilidad del TA. Los resultados indicaron que el Test de Anillos es un instrumento válido y confiable para la medición de la atención visual en niños y niñas. Presentó adecuados valores en validez convergente y una satisfactoria estabilidad temporal entre la primera y segunda evaluación. Se concluye que el Test de Anillos constituye un aporte a los instrumentos neuropsicológicos existentes para la evaluación de la atención visual en población infantil.

Current neurocognitive models define attention as a cognitive control system responsible for activation and hierarchical organization of the processes to elaborate information. It plays a key role in child cognitive performance and in school learning. It has been documented that children with greater attention capabilities show better performance in tasks that require cognitive control and better school performance. Therefore, it is important to have valid and reliable assessment instruments, which allow evaluating attentional performance in children with greater precision, and that are adapted to the sociocultural context of the target population. In line with these postulates, this paper presents a new instrument designed to evaluate visual attention in children called the Ring Test. The Ring Test is a visual discrimination test that has been constructed using Landolt’s C optotype and following the tristimulus structure proposed by the Perception of Similarities and Differences (FACES) Test. Ring Test is a pencil and paper test that is made up of 60 blocks of stimuli each with triads of optotypes, where two optotypes are the same and one different. Subject’s task is to find the different optotype in each stimulus triad and cross it out. This instrument brings into play focused and sustained attention and makes it possible to assess attentional effectiveness (AE), attentional efficiency (AF) and attentional performance (AP). Also, the Ring Test measures impulsivity (ICI) and net correct answers (NCA). The purpose of the study is to analyze psychometric properties for the Ring Test. Study’s specific objectives were: (1) analyze the convergent validity between the Ring Test and the FACES Test, and (2) analyze the reliability of the Ring Test through the temporal stability. This study is framed in an instrumental design. The sample was composed of 86 schoolchildren, between 8 to 10 years. The results indicated that the Ring Test presented accurate values of convergent validity with the FACES test. The indicators of the Ring Test (AE, AF, AP, ICI and NCA) weighted for the complete execution of the test, showed the highest convergent validity indexes with the FACES Test (rho: from. 55 to. 62). AR and NCA for the complete execution of the test were the indicators that presented the highest validity (rho >. 58), within the analyzed indicators. Also, the Ring Test presented a satisfactory temporal stability between the first and second measurement. It was observed that the most stable indicators are those that are calculated for the complete performance of the test (rho: from. 56 to. 76), and not for the partial times. AR and NCA calculated for the complete execution of the test were the indicators that denoted the greatest temporal stability (rho >. 65). Another interesting aspect to highlight is that the Ring Test proved to be a valid and reliable instrument to measure attentional efficacy and impulsivity. AE evaluates the accuracy with which a child discriminates targeted stimuli within a set of similar stimuli and, consequently, can be considered a good indicator of attentional control. The ICI assesses the reflexivity or impulsiveness with which a subject performs a visual discrimination task. In sum, the results indicated that the Ring Test is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring visual attention in children. It is recommended to apply the complete test, not in time fractions, because the indicators calculated for the complete execution of the test showed greater convergent validity with the FACES test and greater temporal stability than the part-time indicators. It is concluded that the Ring Test is a contribution to the neuropsychological instruments available for the proper evaluation of visual attention in children.