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Dot Counting Test

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Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

Synonyms

DCT

Description

The Dot Counting Test (DCT) is a performance validity test (PVT), i.e., a test designed to detect malingered cognitive difficulties. It was originally developed in 1941 by Andre Rey. Examinees are shown a series of 12 cards (usually 3 × 5″) on which are printed dots 1/16th of an inch in diameter. Each of the first six cards contains an odd number of randomly arranged dots (ungrouped), while the final six cards show an even number of dots (one more than each corresponding card from the first six) arranged in an organized pattern (grouped). The task requires examinees to count the dots as quickly as possible by the fastest means possible. Both time to completion and errors are recorded. It is expected that cooperative examinees will count grouped dots more quickly and accurately than ungroupeddots. Therefore, suspect effort is identified when the number of errors is higher for the grouped dot condition or when the time taken to count grouped dots is equal to or...

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References and Readings

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Correspondence to Brad Merker .

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Merker, B., Wingate, M., Podell, K. (2018). Dot Counting Test. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_173

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