Comparison of the Computer and Hand Administered Versions of the Brown Location Test (BLT)

Objective: The Brown Location Test (BLT) was developed to remedy some of the problems in existing visual-based memory tests. The hand version has demonstrated good psychometric properties, the ability to provide lateralization information for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients, and has normative data. The purpose of this study was to compare the hand administered format to the more recently developed computer administered format. Methods: We used Generalizability Theory analyses to assess the degree of variability in scores across the hand and computer versions of the test, and across alternate test forms, A and B. We also compared the means and standard deviations for the different versions and forms using paired t-tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: There was minimal variability and high levels of score similarity across the various test administration formats and forms. Conclusions: The high degree of comparability between versions allows one to apply the validity findings and normative data collected using the hand administered version to the computer version of the BLT.