Date of Award
2000
Degree Name
Psychology
College
College of Liberal Arts
Type of Degree
M.A.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Stephen L. O’Keefe
Second Advisor
Leonard J. Deutsch
Abstract
The Trail Making Test Parts A and B is a neuropsychological test that has long been thought to be a highly reliable and valid test that is able to discriminate cerebral dysfunction. In the present study, an investigation was completed in order to determine whether or not the Trail Making Test Parts A and B could differentiate learning disabled students from non-learning disabled students in four counties in West Virginia. Fifty-six students ranging from ages 9-16 (mean age 9.9) were involved in the study. The convenience sample consisted of 27 learning disabled students and 29 controls or non-learning disabled students.
Results indicated, using a one-way ANOVA, that there was a statistically significant difference between the performance on Trail Making Test Part B but not on Part A. The results of the present study confirmed the previously held belief that Trail Making Test Part B is able to differentiate between learning disabled children and non-learning disabled children. Trail Making Test Part B is more sensitive to neurological deficits than Trail Making Test Part A since it requires that the individual be able to switch between a numerical and an alphabetical series. In summary, the present study supports the premise that the Trail Making Test can be employed as a tool to distinguish between LD and non-LD children. Further research needs to be completed.
Subject(s)
Neuropsychological tests for children.
Learning disabled children – Testing.
Recommended Citation
Evilsizor, Glorene K., "The ability of Trail Making Test Parts A and B for children and adolescents to discriminate between learning disabled students and non-learning disabled students" (2000). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1612.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1612
