A Quick Assessment of Visuospatial Abilities in Adolescents Using the Design Organization Test (DOT). Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burggraaf, Rudolf; Frens, Maarten A.; Hooge, Ignace T. C.; van der Geest, Jos N.
• Is Part Of: Applied neuropsychology. Volume 5:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: adolescence -- age -- Block Design test -- Design Organization Test (DOT) -- visuospatial ability; Pediatric neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Brain -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Brain -- Imaging -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2014.945114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-2965

Abstract

Abstract : Tests measuring visuospatial abilities have shown that these abilities increase during adolescence. Unfortunately, the Block Design test and other such tests are complicated and time-consuming to administer, making them unsuitable for use with large groups of restless adolescents. The results of the Design Organization Test (DOT), a quick pen-and-paper test, have been shown to correlate with those of the Block Design test. A group of 198 healthy adolescents (110 male and 88 female) aged 12 to 19 years old participated in this study. A slightly modified version of the DOT has been used in which we shortened the administration time to avoid a ceiling effect in the score. Scores show a linear increase with age (on average 2.0 points per year, r = .61) independent of sex. Scores did not differ between individual setting and group setting. Thus, the DOT is a simple and effective way to assess visuospatial ability in large groups, such as in schools, and it can be easily administered year after year to follow the development of students.