| The use of pieces of commonly administered neuropsychological tests (embedded measures) have been explored as having possible utility in assessing poor effort and malingering. Correlations between the embedded measures of Reliable Digit Span (RDS), the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Recognition Trial (RAVLT Recognition), errors on the Category Test Subtests I and II, and Tactile Form Recognition Errors (TFR errors) and well validated tests designed for the sole purpose of assessing effort and malingering were investigated. Correlations were examined because embedded measures may be advantageous as they are more cost effective, more time efficient, cause less fatigue on the examinee, and give more information about effort throughout the day as well as on specific tests. Eight Chi-Square tests were run comparing each embedded measure and each sole purpose test of malingering (Test of Memory Malingering and the Rey 15-Item Test). Results indicate RDS and RAVLT Recognition have the strongest associations with both sole purpose tests, although some support was found for Category Subtest I and II errors and TFR errors as well. Overall, results indicate that utilization of RDS and RAVLT Recognition performance may be sufficient when making a determination regarding an individual's effort and validity of the testing data in the absence of performance on sole purpose tests. |
