Nonequivalence of Computerized and Paper-and-Pencil Versions of Trail Making Test

Abstract

A computerized version of the Trail Making Test, an adaptation of the classical paper-and-pencil form, was compared with the paper-and-pencil form. The testee must connect targets on the screen with the cursor using the mouse instead of a sheet of paper and a pen. The participants were 68 healthy adolescents and young adults. The comparison of scores on the two versions showed that they cannot be considered equivalent; the difference between the two parts of the test (Parts A and B) was greater in the paper-and-pencil version; correlations between the two versions of Part A and of Part B were significant, but too low to consider the two versions parallel. Both versions were accepted by participants. As expected, mean scores were different in Parts A and B in both versions and magnitude of differences was large.