Manual

Conners 4 Manual

Chapter 6: Summary


Summary

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The development of the Conners 4 was comprised of three phases: (a) the conceptualization, initial planning, and item development phase; (b) the pilot phase; and (c) the standardization phase. The goals for developing the Conners 4 were to build upon the strong foundations set by its predecessor, while providing updates and refinements to enhance the structure, content, and format of the rating scales (for a breakdown of how much of the content from the Conners 4 full-length and short forms were unchanged, modified, and new when compared to the content from the Conners 3, see Tables 6.14 and 6.15, respectively). As a result, the Conners 4 not only preserves the core strengths of the Conners 3, but also presents a measure that better aligns with the test of ADHD for adults, CAARS 2 (Conners et al., 2022), and meets the standards for fairness and cultural sensitivity. The revised measure also includes updated and more representative normative samples and ADHD Reference Samples to better facilitate the diagnostic process. There is now greater alignment across Parent, Teacher, and Self-Report forms, modified and new metrics to capture possible invalid symptom reporting and responding, screening items for common clinical concerns with ADHD, updated and expanded content, and new scales to examine impairment and functional outcomes.

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Table 6.14. Breakdown of Unchanged, Modified, and New Content from the Conners 3 to Conners 4

Components

Parent

Teacher

Self-Report

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

Negative Impression Index

8

0.0

12.5

87.5

7

0.0

14.3

85.7

8

0.0

0.0

100.0

Self-Harm Critical Items

2

0.0

0.0

100.0

2

0.0

0.0

100.0

3

0.0

0.0

100.0

Severe Conduct Critical Items

6

83.3

16.7

0.0

6

83.3

16.7

0.0

6

0.0

83.3

16,7

Content Scales

Inattention/Executive Dysfunction

20

30.0

45.0

25.0

20

30.0

45.0

25.0

20

20.0

40.0

40.0

Hyperactivity

11

18.2

54.5

27.3

11

36.4

45.5

18.2

11

54.5

18.2

27.3

Impulsivity

9

22.2

33.3

44.4

9

22.2

33.3

44.4

9

22.2

33.3

44.4

Emotional Dysregulation

8

25.0

0.0

75.0

8

25.0

0.0

75.0

8

12.5

0.0

87.5

Depressed Mood

6

16.7

50.0

33.3

6

16.7

33.3

50.0

6

50.0

0.0

50.0

Anxious Thoughts

5

0.0

60.0

40.0

5

0.0

60.0

40.0

6

33.3

16.7

50.0

Impairment & Functional
Outcome Scales

Schoolwork

6

16.7

0.0

83.3

6

16.7

0.0

83.3

7

0.0

14.3

85.7

Peer Interactions

6

0.0

50.0

50.0

6

0.0

33.3

66.7

6

0.0

0.0

100.0

Family Life

7

0.0

0.0

100.0

0

0.0

0.0

0.0

6

0.0

0.0

100.0

DSM Symptom Scales

ADHD Inattentive Symptoms

11

27.3

63.6

9.1

11

18.2

72.7

9.1

12

16.7

58.3

25.0

ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive Symptoms

13

23.1

61.5

15.4

13

30.8

53.8

15.4

12

58.3

16.7

25.0

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms

10

50.0

30.0

20.0

10

60.0

20.0

20.0

10

40.0

30.0

30.0

Conduct Disorder Symptoms

15

66.7

33.3

0.0

13

76.9

23.1

0.0

15

20.0

73.3

6.7

Total Test

117a

25.6

30.8

43.6

109a

30.3

28.4

41.3

118a

22.0

24.6

53.4

Note. The Inconsistency Index and ADHD Index are not listed above because the items in these scales are found, and thus accounted for, in the other scales.

a The totals provided are not equal to the sum of the scale item counts because some items are found in multiple scales. The Total Test values represent the number of unique items within the test, including the additional questions .


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Table 6.15. Breakdown of Unchanged, Modified, and New Content from the Conners 3 Short Form to Conners 4-Short

Components

Parent

Teacher

Self-Report

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

N
items

%
Unchanged

%
Modified

%
New

Negative Impression Index

8

0.0

12.5

87.5

7

0.0

14.3

85.7

8

0.0

0.0

100.0

Content Scales

Inattention/Executive Dysfunction

10

30.0

33.3

60.0

10

0.0

20.0

80.0

10

0.0

10.0

90.0

Hyperactivity

5

0.0

40.0

60.0

5

0.0

40.0

60.0

5

20.0

40.0

40.0

Impulsivity

5

0.0

0.0

100.0

5

0.0

0.0

100.0

5

0.0

0.0

100.0

Emotional Dysregulation

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

Impairment & Functional Outcome Scales

Schoolwork

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

Peer Interactions

4

0.0

25.0

75.0

4

0.0

25.0

75.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

Family Life

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

0

0.0

0.0

0.0

4

0.0

0.0

100.0

ADHD Indexa

12

0.0

0.0

100.0

12

0.0

0.0

100.0

12

0.0

0.0

100.0

Total Test

53b

5.7

7.5

66.0

49b

0.0

12.2

75.5

51b

2.0

5.9

84.3

a The ADHD Index is not part of the Conners 3 Short form so the items for this scale are all new for the Conners 4 - Short. However, because some of the items in this scale are found, and thus accounted for, in the other scales, only the unique items (i.e., not found in other scales) are counted towards the percentages.

b The totals provided are not equal to the sum of the scale item counts because some items are found in multiple scales. The Total Test values represent the number of unique items within the test, including the additional questions .


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