Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards as brief measures of information processing speed

Abstract

The construct and discrimant validity of Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards as measures of information processing speed were examined. In Study 1, seven commonly used speeded neuropsychological measures, including Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards, were subjected to factor analysis. Two factors emerged. Factor 1 was labeled visual-motor scanning speed. Factor 2 was labeled information processing speed and included Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards. Study 2 compared 42 cardiac transplant candidates and 46 age, education, and IQ matched college student controls on Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards. The cardiac patients were significantly slower on both Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards but did not make more errors. These results suggest that Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards can be used as brief and technically simple measures of information processing speed.