title: Examination of the diurnal assumptions of the test of variables of attention for elementary students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the diurnal assumptions of the test of variables of attention (TOVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study assessed 122 elementary students aged 5.5 to 10.0 years who were randomly assigned to one of four different groups based on time of administration (M-M: morning-morning, M-A: morning-afternoon, A-M: afternoon-morning, and A-A: afternoon-afternoon). Morning administration occurred between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., and afternoon administration occurred between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reliability was consistent across groups, and there were no significant differences between groups. Classification of the students into ADHD or non-ADHD groups was similar across groups, and the children who were identified as ADHD with the Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic teacher rating scale were consistently classified as ADHD on the TOVA regardless of time of day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that the psychometric values of the TOVA remain intact whether its administration was in the morning or afternoon.
authors.affiliation: Pittsburg State University, KS 66762, USA. dhurford@pittstate.edu
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hurford
authors.forename: Kara A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lasater
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kiesling
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*