About This Product

Cognitive Assessment System, Second Edition (CAS2)

BY JACK A. NAGLIERI, J. P. DAS, AND SAM GOLDSTEIN

The Cognitive Assessment System, Second Edition (CAS2) is a well-researched, norm-referenced measure of cognitive ability based on the PASS theory of intelligence (Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive). The CAS2 measures cognitive processing abilities important for a broad range of differential diagnoses and instructional planning in individuals ages 5 through 18. The CAS2 provides practitioners with a valid and reliable tool to evaluate children’s strengths and weaknesses in important areas of cognitive processing.

CAS2 Scores

The CAS2 Extended Battery has three subtests in each of the four PASS scales. The Core Battery includes two subtests from each of the four PASS scales. Each PASS scale, as well as the CAS2 Full Scale, yields a standard score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.

Planning—A cognitive process requiring the individual to determine, select, and use a strategy to solve a problem. The subtests require the solving of novel tasks. The three Planning subtests are Planned Codes, Planned Connections, and Planned Number Matching.
Attention—A cognitive process requiring the individual to selectively attend to a particular stimulus and inhibit attending to competing stimuli. The three Attention subtests are Expressive Attention, Number Detection, and Receptive Attention.
Simultaneous—A cognitive process involving integrating separate stimuli into a single whole or group. The three Simultaneous subtests are Matrices, Verbal–Spatial Relations, and Figure Memory.
Successive—A cognitive process requiring the serial ordering of things. The four Successive subtests are Word Series, Sentence Repetition (ages 5–7) or Sentence Questions (ages 8–18), and Visual Digit Span.

The CAS2 also yields five supplemental composite scores: Executive Function without Working Memory, Executive Function with Working Memory, Working Memory, Verbal Content, and Nonverbal Content. A visual versus auditory comparison is also provided.

CAS2 Components

Administration and Scoring Manual – This manual provides general information, specific instructions for administering and scoring the subtests, norms tables, and interpretive tables.

Interpretive and Technical Manual–This manual presents the information needed to use the test, including a discussion of the PASS theory, explanations of the test’s organization and development as well as information on standardization and norming, reliability, and validity, and interpretation of the CAS2.

Stimulus Books 1, 2, and 3–The Stimulus Books include all the subtest stimuli used during administration of the test. The Stimulus Books provide the stimulus items for the Matrices, Verbal–Spatial Relations, Figure Memory, and Expressive Attention subtests.

Student Response Book–The CAS2 includes two age-based Student Response Booklets, one for ages 5 through 7 years and one for ages 8 through 18 years. The booklets are intended for paper-and-pencil responses for the Planned Number Matching, Planned Codes, Planned Connections, Number Detection, and Receptive Attention subtests.

Figure Memory Response Book–This response book is intended for the paper-and-pencil response for the Figure Memory subtest.

Scoring Templates–A spiral-bound booklet with scoring templates offers examiners a convenient aid for ease and accuracy in scoring Response Book pages.

Examiner Record Form–This provides space for recording responses for each subtest, as well as a summary of the scoring and permanent documentation of test results.

Red pencils–Two red pencils, for use in subtests requiring written responses, are included in each CAS2 complete test kit.

Technical Features

The CAS2 was standardized using a group of 1,342 children and adolescents that closely represents the population of the U.S. Extensive reliability and validity information is reported in the Interpretive and Technical Manual that accompanies the test. The 12 subtest Core Battery Full Scale reliability is .95 with the PASS Scale reliabilities ranging from .86 to .93. Internal consistency, test-retest, and scorer reliability studies were conducted. Types of validity reported include content-description, criterion-prediction, and construct-identification. Validity with special populations—including persons with speech or language impairment, learning disability, gifted and talented, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder, or Asperger’s syndrome—are reported. Special attention was paid to making the CAS2 fair for minority groups. Validity evidence reported in the Interpretive and Technical Manual demonstrates the test’s value for assessment of diverse groups of children.

Interpretation

The Interpretive and Technical Manual provides methods for interpretation of scores. It explains how to examine the PASS profile, compare PASS scales, analyze subtests, and compare PASS scores to achievement. To determine intra-individual differences, the Interpretive and Technical Manual provides tables to evaluate the significance of the differences between the four PASS scale standard scores. It also provides similar tables to evaluate the significance of differences between scaled scores for each subtest within a PASS Scale. Actuarial values are included. The CAS2 Examiner Record Form provides an Interpretive Worksheet for the calculation and recording of PASS Scale comparisons, subtest analysis, first-to-second administration comparisons, and supplemental composite scores.

Methods for using the PASS and Full Scale scores to identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses are also provided. Due to the unique information that can be obtained from the CAS2, the results may be particularly helpful when assessing special populations. The Interpretive and Technical Manual also contains additional resources for examiners, such as implications for intervention based on CAS2 results, descriptions of several research-based instructional programs directly linked to PASS theory, and an illustrative CAS2 report presenting a written interpretation of CAS2 results.

Cognitive Assessment System: Rating Scale, Second Edition (CAS2: Rating Scale)

The CAS2: Rating Scale is a well-researched, norm-referenced measure of cognitive ability based on the PASS theory of intelligence (Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive) completed by teachers. The rating scale provides scores for Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive scales as well as a Total Score. Each PASS Scale, as well as the CAS2 Full Scale, yields a percentile rank and standard score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.

The scores from the CAS2: Rating Scale can be used to:

Support a referral, services, or special placements
Supplement a comprehensive evaluation
Compare teachers’ ratings with test results
Help plan and design academic interventions by revealing behaviors and skills the teacher considers problematic or lacking
Monitor the effectiveness of interventions

Results are particularly useful when used as part of a comprehensive evaluation or as a pre-referral or referral tool.

Technical Characteristics

The CAS2: Rating Scale was standardized using a group of 1,383 children and adolescents that closely represent the population of the U.S. Extensive reliability and validity information is reported in the Examiner’s Manual. Coefficient alpha reliability coefficients range from .93 to .98. Validity studies include an investigation into its diagnostic accuracy as it relates to its sensitivity, specificity, classification accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic/area under the curve (ROC/AUC).

Cognitive Assessment System: Brief, Second Edition (CAS2: Brief)

The CAS2: Brief is a well-researched, norm-referenced measure of cognitive ability based on the PASS theory of intelligence (Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive). PASS abilities are evaluated using four subtests (Planned Codes, Simultaneous Matrices, Expressive Attention, and Successive Digits), which are combined to yield a Total Score. Each subtest yields a scaled score based on a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. The sum of scaled scores can be converted to a percentile rank and index score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.

The CAS2: Brief provides practitioners with a brief but valid and reliable tool to examine children and adolescents’ strengths and weaknesses in important areas of cognitive processing. The CAS2: Brief is useful whenever a fast, reliable, and research-based measure is needed to evaluate PASS cognitive abilities. This would include initial testing to measure overall ability and examination of variability in PASS scores to determine possible implications for intervention.

CAS2: Brief Components

Examiner’s Manual This manual provides general information, specific instructions for administering and scoring the subtests, norms tables, and interpretive tables.

Stimulus Book The Stimulus Book provides the stimulus items for the Simultaneous Matrices and Expressive Attention subtests.

Student Response Book The Student Response Booklet is used for examinees to record responses to the Planned Codes subtest.

Scoring Templates A spiral-bound booklet with six scoring templates offers examiners a convenient aid for ease and accuracy in scoring the Planned Codes subtest.

Examiner Record Form The Examiner Record Form provides space for recording responses for each subtest, as well as a summary of the scoring and permanent documentation of test results.

Red pencils Two red pencils are included for the student to use when taking the Planned Codes subtest.

The CAS2: Brief was standardized using a group of 1,417 children and adolescents that closely represent the population of the U.S. Extensive reliability and validity information is reported in the Examiner’s Manual. Full Scale reliability is .94; subtest reliabilities range from .86 to .93. Validity studies compare CAS2: Brief results with both the CAS2 and CAS2: Rating Scale, as well as a variety of tests of intelligence and achievement.