Background: Selective attention and visuospatial orienting attention are important cognitive functions for children's development. Testing based on touch-based mobile technology platforms is becoming increasingly widespread in psychological assessment. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the newly developed touchscreen tablet-based test of selective and orienting attention (t-SOA test) in typical developing children aged 7-10 years. Methods: Two age groups of children, the group7-8 (7-8 years, 9 girls, 10 boys) and the group9-10 (9-10 years, 9 girls, 9 boys), performed the t-SOA test on a tablet (Android operating system) and a stylus, as well as the Reaction test of selective attention of the Vienna Test System (RT4-VTS). The criterion validity of the t-SOA test was verified by the RT4-VTS, and the construct validity via an analysis of the effect of age on the results of the t-SOA test. The reliability of the t-SOA test was assessed through internal consistency. Results: The internal consistency of the response time (RT) to the target stimulus was demonstrated to be excellent, Cronbach's α = .944. The mixed linear model with two factors - the central and the spatial (peripheral) cues, showed no significant effect on mean RT. Mean RT, median RT, and the coefficient of variation for RTs (CVRT) in the t-SOA test correlated significantly with analogous test scores of the RT4-VTS test, but not in the case of the number of correct responses, omissions, and commissions. A statistically significant effect of the age group was found for mean RT, median RTs, CVRT, and omission of the t-SOA test. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the newly constructed t- SOA test may be a valid and reliable tool for assessing the level of visual selective attention of children during middle childhood. The study supported the current suggestion that the assessment of cognitive functions with a touchscreen tablet and a digital stylus is feasible and accepted by school-age children.

BALUO Application Centre Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc

Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc

Department of Wellness and Nutrition Sciences College of Physical Culture and Sport PALESTRA Prague

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