Examination of the Construct Validity of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Language Index in a Mixed Neurological Sample

Abstract

Objective: We sought to examine the construct validity of the Language Index of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Methods: Archival neuropsychological data were collected for 2,057 individuals of diverse neurological etiologies. Results: Correlations were seen between the RBANS Language Index and its indices (Semantic Fluency r = .727; Picture Naming r = .786), between Semantic Fluency and both Category Fluency (r = .379) and the Controlled Oral Word Association test (r = .375), and between Picture Naming and both Visual Naming from the Multilingual Aphasia Examination (r = .447) and the Boston Naming Test (r = .519). Finally, Picture Naming predicted performance on both Visual Naming [F(1,495) = 123.36, p < .000] and the Boston Naming Test [F(1,262) = 96.28, p < .000]. Conclusion: Given these results, support for the interpretation of RBANS Language Index appears warranted in a diverse clinical sample.