Manufacture and Validation of Paced Visual Serial Addition Test (PVSAT) for an Iranian Population

Abstract Some neurological injury affect on sustaining attention. Attention is the most sensitive component of cognitive processes in front of traumas. The aim of this study was to predispose using PVSAT (paced visual serial addition task) in Iran by designing the test and perform a pilot study on Iranians, while its reliability and validity were assessed. In Paced Visual Serial Addition Test, participant has to add the last digit presented to the preceding digit which presented on the screen of the computer then verbalizes the answer. The test has two trials, in trial 1 the digits are presented at the rate of 3 seconds, and in trial 2 at 2 second. Its traditional total correct score seemingly reflects multiple cognitive abilities, including attention, concentration, working memory, and processing speed. This test was performed on 80 normal Iranian participants(45 females and 35 males) who ranged in age from 15 to 55 years old with a mean of 27 years old, and in three educated groups (less than 12 years education, between 12–16 years of education, and more than 16 years of education) with a mean of 14 years of education. People with serious neurological disease or mental disorder, with history of head trauma, with visual or auditoria problem didn’t enter to test. To determine the validity of the test, after one month 35 participants (20 female and 15 male) were assessed again. Results with the demographic factors like age ( M = 27 , S D : 7.7 ) , and education ( M = 14 , S D = 3 ) showed : true answers in trial 1was ( M = 53 , S D = 6.5 ) ,true answers in trial 2 was ( M = 49 , S D = 9 ) . The validity of this test in Iran was 0.91. This result was completely similar to last studies. This test can be used, both in clinical psychology and studies that are related to mild brain disorder, MS, ADHD and many other problems correlated with memory, attention and concentration.