Convergent Validity of Baseline Concussion Measures
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine convergent validity of similar domains in two
commonly used neurocognitive assessments for concussion, the Sports Concussion
Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5) and the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and
Cognitive Testing (ImPACT). The SCAT-5 and ImPACT will be described in great
detail in the background review and only noted in the methods section of this paper.
Baseline performance on these measures was analyzed from a sample of
approximately 747 college athletes. Individual performance in the same
neurocognitive domain was compared for consistency across SCAT-5 and ImPACT
tests. Domains included immediate and delayed verbal memory, as well as
concentration and attention. Additionally, group performance based on order of
administration was compared to rule out the possibility of extraneous influences on
performance. Results of this study confirm that these widely used concussion
measures demonstrate convergent validity within the tested domains by showing
stability within individual athlete’s performance across measures; however, the size of the effects ranged from small to medium. Findings also support the literature on the
use of multiple cognitive performance measures in concussion management.