The Author Recognition Test for Rioplatense Spanish

Reading, unlike spoken language, requires explicit instruction and sustained practice throughout life. Empirical evidence shows that most new words learned by older children and adults are acquired through reading. The Author Recognition Test (ART) is a widely used psychometric tool designed to assess print exposure indirectly. Although the ART has been adapted to various languages, no robust version existed for Spanish speakers in the Rioplatense region of Uruguay and Argentina. This article presents the development, adaptation, and validation of a Rioplatense Spanish version of the ART (ART-RP), based on data from two large-scale online studies.In Study 1, 2347 participants completed the ART-RP along with a vocabulary test and a reading habits questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and item response theory (IRT) models were used to analyze test structure and psychometric properties. In Study 2, an independent sample of 257 participants completed the ART-RP along with two reading tasks: a lexical decision task and a self-paced reading task. ART-RP scores correlated significantly with vocabulary scores, self-reported reading habits, and response latencies in both tasks.Despite some limitations in test informativeness at high ability levels, the results support the validity and reliability of the ART-RP as a measure of lifetime print exposure in Spanish-speaking populations. The test, including source code and item lists, is openly available for use in research and educational contexts.