DAKT Differential Attention Test

The DAKT enables the reliable and valid measurement of „Perceptual speed" and „Accuracy/ Resistance to error" as basic elements of attention. Moreover, the test is suitable for the diagnosis of perceptual disorders, e.g. dyslexia.

Application
DAKT is used primarily to measure perceptual speed and accuracy – that is, the quantity and quality of concentration and attention.

Theoretical background
DAKT is a non-verbal test for measuring perceptual speed and accuracy. Perceptual speed is defined as the capacity to recognize details rapidly in a distracting perceptual environment and to differentiate them from irrelevant material. The ratio between the number of errors and the quantitative performance is taken as the measure of accuracy. Research on mental ability using factor analysis has unambiguously identified a perceptual factor which involves a major component of speed. DAKT focuses on this factor.

Administration
DAKT consists of three subtests containing different material (numbers, letters and figures). The task is to identify and mark critical items as fast and accurately as possible.

Test forms
There are two parallel test forms (S1 and S2). Each of the subtests can be administered separately.

Scoring
The number of correctly solved items constitutes the measure of perceptual speed; the percentage of errors in the total number of items worked is the measure of accuracy. The results protocol shows raw and standard scores for each subtest and for the test as a whole.

Reliability
The parallel-test reliability coefficients are r=0.96 for perceptual speed and r=0.85 for accuracy.

Validity
The psychological validity of DAKT is evident – the respondents think immediately of “attention and concentration”. Logical validity is given by the operational definition of perceptual speed and accuracy. Content validity has been proven through factor analysis. Prognostic validity has been demonstrated for occupations requiring a high level of perceptual speed and accuracy.

Norms
For both test forms norms of an Austrian norm sample of N=436 persons as well as a Swedish norm sample of N=1120 are available. Both norm samples are available broken down by age. Statistically the overall Austrian norms do not differ from the overall Swedish norms, hence the samples can be regarded as parallel.