Validity of the Chinese Version of the Allen Cognitive Level Screen Assessment for Individuals with Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent, construct validity (using the known groups method) and ecological validity of the Chinese version of the Allen Cognitive Level Screen Assessment (CACLS). Sixty-one individuals with schizophrenia and 61 control subjects were recruited to undergo the CACLS and the Chinese versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE) and Functional Needs Assessment (CFNA), respectively. The results suggested that the concurrent validity had initially been established because the CACLS score correlated moderately with the CMMSE scores (γ = 0.61; p < .01) and was highly correlated with the CFNA scores (γ = 0.71; p < .01). Based on the results of the Mann—Whitney U test (Z = −8.679; p < .001) and the analysis of covariance (F = 40.7; p < .001) to control possible confounding variables, the construct validity of the CACLS had initially been demonstrated. Suggestions for future studies of the CACLS are also made.