Construct Validity of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Children with Learning Disorders

Abstract

The underlying constructs of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Older Children (HRNB-C; Reitan, 1969) were examined for a large sample of learning-disabled children. Scores on the HRNB-C, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, and the Wide Range Achievement Test were factor analyzed separately for 9- to 10-year-olds, 11- to 12-year-olds, and 13- to 14-year-olds and then the overall group. Like factors were identified across age levels and compared using coefficients of congruence. A six-factor solution emerged for the 9- to 10-year-old group, whereas a seven-factor solution was interpreted for the older groups. Factors appeared to represent Simple Motor Skills, Visually Guided Motor Activities, Verbal Organization and Verbal Concept Formation, Symbolic Langauge Integration, Spatial Organization, and Integration across age. Factors that related to Visual-Spatial Organization and Spatial Memory were less stable. These data were interpreted as suggesting an increase in complexity of neuropsychological functioning with age.