Extended testing with the dot-probe task increases test-retest reliability and validity

The dot-probe task is used to measure attentional biases toward threat. However, the test-retest reliability and validity of the task have been called into question. No studies to date have included an extended number of testing sessions or tailored the task to individual participants by incorporating self-relevant stimulidoing so may improve reliability. Here, participants provided 10 words that caused them anxiety and 10 neutral words which were incorporated into a dot-probe task for 6 sessions. The test-retest reliability of their bias indices was stronger in bottom-target trials relative to top-target trials and stronger among later relative to earlier sessions. State and trait anxiety were moderately correlated with bias indices in later sessions, but not earlier sessions. Overall reaction time in each session was moderately correlated with state and trait anxiety. These results suggest that including extended testing may facilitate dot-probe task test-retest reliability and validity.