Reliability of two social cognition tests: The combined stories test and the social knowledge test. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thibaudeau, Élisabeth; Cellard, Caroline; Legendre, Maxime; Villeneuve, Karèle; Achim, Amélie M.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 262(2018)
• Page Start: 63
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Psychometric properties -- Test-retest reliability -- Inter-rater reliability; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.01.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Deficits in social cognition are common in psychiatric disorders. Validated social cognition measures with good psychometric properties are necessary to assess and target social cognitive deficits. Two recent social cognition tests, the Combined Stories Test (COST) and the Social Knowledge Test (SKT), respectively assess theory of mind and social knowledge. Previous studies have shown good psychometric properties for these tests, but the test-retest reliability has never been documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability and the inter-rater reliability of the COST and the SKT. The COST and the SKT were administered twice to a group of forty-two healthy adults, with a delay of approximately four weeks between the assessments. Excellent test-retest reliability was observed for the COST, and a good test-retest reliability was observed for the SKT. There was no evidence of practice effect. Furthermore, an excellent inter-rater reliability was observed for both tests. This study shows a good reliability of the COST and the SKT that adds to the good validity previously reported for these two tests. These good psychometrics properties thus support that the COST and the SKT are adequate measures for the assessment of social cognition. Highlights: The Combined Stories test (COST) is a measure of theory of mind. The Social Knowledge test (SKT) is a measure of social knowledge. The test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the COST and the SKT are presented. The scoring grids were refined, which improved reliability. Both tests present good to excellent inter-rater and test-retest reliability.