Planning versus speed: an experimental examination of what Planned Codes of the Cognitive Assessment System measures

This study provided validity evidence that the Cognitive Assessment System, Planned Codes subtest measures planning rather than speed. Each of 156 children completed Planned Codes using two different sets of directions. The first set of directions allowed each child to use strategies to complete Planned Codes. The second set of directions allowed the child only to use speed to complete Planned Codes. The results of the study indicated significantly higher scores (t=11.5, P<.0001) when the child was allowed to use strategies (mean=34.1, S.D.=9.2) compared to the same child’s score when speed (mean=25.6, S.D.=7.5) alone was used to complete Planned Codes. A partial correlation, with age effects removed, between the scores each child earned under the two conditions was very low (r=.23; P<.01). Calculation of the magnitude of difference between the two groups yielded an effect size of 1.0. The results of this study provided validity support that the Cognitive Assessment System Planned Codes subtest measures planning.