PSYC31H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: North American Racing Team, Neurology, Neuropsychological Assessment
14 Oct 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Cannot determine performance is impaired until compared against other measures: norm for digit span is 7+/- 2, the more deviant the score, the more likely something abnormal may be going on. Comparison standards can be derived in two ways: appropriate (normative population) Individual norms (derived from patient"s history or present characteristics) depending on the patient, the behavior being evaluated, and assessment purpose. Culture (e. g. , naming images, such as an igloo) Gender (e. g. , men have greater grip strength: neuropsychological assessment of cognitive function uses both normative and individual comparison standards, be aware of judgmental biases when estimating you premorbid abilities. Population average: manuals come with norms, usually 1,000-2,000 people. Important that sample is representative of everyone who is about to take the test: variables that would disadvantage someone if the sample weren"t representative: Differences between an undergrad and a 70 yr. old. Relative deficit to what the individual was before the deficit.
