The Computerized Test Battery for Attentional Performance for Children (KITAP): Relations with Working Memory and Perceptual Speed

The present study explores relationships between different aspects of attention (subtests of KITAP: Distractibility, Alertness, Flexibility, Divided Attention and Go/NoGo) and cognitive performance (subscales of HAWIK-IV: perceptual speed and working memory). N=456 children (52.2% boys) between 7 and 10 years of age (M=105 months, SD = 5.86) were included in the study. A confirmatory factor analysis of the subtests for attention resulted in two latent variables (performance speed and performance quality) with good model fit. Performance quality correlated significantly with working memory and perceptual speed (r = -.31; r = -.24). Performance speed showed significant, albeit lower correlations with cognitive performance. Consequences for the differential interpretation of KITAP-subtests are discussed.