The California Verbal Learning Test - second edition: Test-retest reliability, practice effects, and reliable change indices for the standard and alternate forms

The California Verbal Learning Test-second edition (CVLT-II) is one of the most widely used neuropsychological tests in North America. The present study evaluated the 1-month test-retest reliability and practice effects associated with the standard and alternate forms of the CVLT-II in a sample of 195 healthy adults. Eighty participants underwent repeat assessment using the standard form of the CVLT-II on both occasions, whereas the remaining 115 individuals received the standard form at baseline and the alternate form at follow-up. Consistent with prior research, results revealed generally large test-retest correlation coefficients for the primary CVLT-II measures in both the standard/standard (range = 0.80-0.84) and standard/alternate (range = 0.61-0.73) cohorts. Despite exhibiting slightly lower test-retest reliability coefficients, participants in the alternate form group displayed notably smaller practice effects (Cohen's d range= -0.01 to 0.18) on the primary indices relative to individuals who received the standard form on both occasions (Cohen's d range = 0.27-0.61). Reliable change indices were also generated and applied to primary CVLT-II variables to determine the base rates of significant improvements (range = 2-10%), declines (range = 0-7%), and stability (range = 85-97%) in performance over time. Overall, findings from this study support the test-retest reliability of the standard and alternate forms of the CVLT-II in healthy adults and may enhance the usefulness of this test in longitudinal neuropsychological evaluations. (c) 2006 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.