Abstract
The maze-solving task is used extensively to evaluate several executive functions. The present study aimed to analyze the construct validity and the internal consistency of a new computer maze-solving task in a sample of young adults and older adults. The new software allows the resolution of 25 mazes (3 difficulty levels) on a touchscreen and registers four variables for analysis: visual analysis time, motor resolution time, number of dead-ends, and number of touches on the maze lines. The construct validity and internal consistency of the mazes were estimated for each group (young adult and older adult subjects) and for each dependent variable investigated. The construct validity was estimated through the item-total correlation and the power of discrimination between groups (young adults and older adults). Cronbach’s alpha was estimated to confirm the internal consistency of the task. The results suggest that the computer maze-solving task is a viable and practical test to investigate various aspects related to cognition and motor skills in samples of different ages.
Resumen
La tarea de resolución de laberintos es ampliamente utilizada en la evaluación de varias funciones ejecutivas. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la validez de constructo y la consistencia interna de una nueva tarea informatizada de resolución de laberintos en una muestra de jóvenes y ancianos. El nuevo software permite la resolución de 25 laberintos (3 niveles de dificultad) en la pantalla táctil y registra cuatro variables para el análisis: tiempo de análisis visual, tiempo de ejecución motora, número de errores de planificación (dead-ends) y número de toques en los límites del laberinto. La validez y confiabilidad de los laberintos fueron calculadas para cada grupo (jóvenes y ancianos) y para cada variable dependiente. La validez de constructo de la tarea fue analizada a través de la correlación ítem-total y por el poder de discriminación entre grupos (jóvenes y ancianos). El Coeficiente alfa de Cronbach fue calculado para confirmar la consistencia interna de la tarea. Los resultados sugieren que la tarea computarizada de resolución de laberintos es un instrumento viable y práctico para investigar varios aspectos de la cognición y de las habilidades motoras en diferentes muestras de edad.
Resumo
A tarefa de resolução de labirintos é amplamente utilizada na avaliação de várias funções executivas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a validade de construto e a consistência interna de uma nova tarefa informatizada de resolução de labirintos em uma amostra de jovens e idosos. Esse novo software permite a resolução de 25 labirintos (3 níveis de dificuldade) na tela sensível ao toque e registra quatro variáveis para análise: tempo de análise visual, tempo de resolução motora, número de erros de planejamento (dead-ends) e número de toques nas linhas do labirinto. A validade de construto e a consistência interna na resolução dos labirintos foram estimadas para cada grupo (jovens e idosos) e para cada variável dependente investigada. A validade do construto foi estimada pela técnica de correlação item-total e pelo poder de discriminação entre os grupos (jovens e idosos). O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi estimado para confirmar a consistência interna da tarefa. Os resultados sugerem que a tarefa computadorizada de resolução de labirintos é um teste viável e prático para investigar vários aspectos relacionados à cognição e às habilidades motoras em diferentes amostras etárias.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Eduardo Henrique de Souza Pires for software development and Bruna Neves Rosa Gonçalves, Caroline Pozzobon Francisco, Fernanda Borges Fonseca, Kamilla Ferreira Rodrigues, Karina do Valle Marques, Mário Sérgio dos Santos, Noemi Ribeiro Nunes da Silva, and Rafaella Andrade Vivenzio for their contributions in collecting data.
Funding
This work was supported by FAPEMIG – APQ – 01749-13 grant to JCR.
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Rossini, J.C., Bernardino, L.G., Lopes, E.J. et al. Computer Maze–Solving Task: Preliminary Psychometric Evidence in Young Adult and Older Adult Sample. Trends in Psychol. 28, 61–71 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00016-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00016-4