Conners 4 Manual Chapter 9: Summary |
In this chapter, the psychometric evidence for validity of the Conners 4 was examined. Validity
refers to the extent to which the test measures what it
is supposed to measure and is studied by exploring the structure of each test and its relations
to other measures and to expected outcomes. The Conners 4
is designed to measure symptoms and impairments related to ADHD and related disorders through
parent, teacher, and self-reported ratings. To that end, the
factor structures of the Content Scales and Impairment & Functional Outcome Scales were
explored, finding evidence to support the hypothesized
multidimensional models, as well as meaningful interrelations between the factors. Next, scores
from the Conners 4 were compared with other measures of
ADHD (Conners 3; BASC 3), executive functioning (CEFI), and functional impairment (WFIRS).
Correlations were statistically significant and supported the
convergence of these measures, providing evidence that similar constructs are measured.
Additionally, comparisons were made between clinical groups that
were anticipated to display differential profiles of scores on the Conners 4 scales. Youth with
ADHD had markedly different results than youth from the
general population, and some significant and nuanced differences were reported for youth with
Depression, Anxiety, and Disruptive Disorders, supporting the
utility of the Conners 4 in distinguishing between clinical diagnoses. Last, the Conners 4
scales were found to successfully classify youth with and
without the following diagnoses, demonstrating utility in differential diagnosis
decision-making: ADHD, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and
Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Overall, there is strong evidence for a variety of types of
validity to support the intended use of the Conners 4 as a valid
measure.