Remote assessment of sustained attention: the reliability of the CCPT-V self-administered at home using local installation Vs. lab setting.

Abstract

Abstract Sustained attention is commonly assessed using different versions of a continuous performance task (CPT), by calculating accuracy rates and reaction time (RT) based measures. Therefore, a valid assessment of sustained attention requires precise recording of RTs. Online tasks are especially prone to RT measuring errors, due to numerous differences in participants’ computers and task compliance. This paper presents a comparison between performance measures, reliability, and time-on-task effect of the Conjunctive-CPT preformed in a controlled lab setting vs. a home setting with the local installation of the task. Two groups of 51 neurotypical adults performed the task either in a lab or in their homes. We observed similar accuracy rates and RT measures in both groups. The split half reliability of measures was slightly attenuated in the home group, yet sufficient for studying individual differences. Results suggest remote administration with local installation is a reliable method when = assessing sustained attention and exploring individual differences through RT measurements. The findings have important implications for both research and clinical uses in circumstances in which in-person assessment is complicated or impossible.