Title:
The ecological validity of clinical tests of visuospatial function in older adults
Author:
Kathryn L. Farley
Thesis Advisor:
Christopher Higginson
Committee Member:
Martin Sherman
Committee Member:
Elizabeth MacDougall
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2010
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
Ecological validity or the degree to which clinical tests of cognitive functioning predict functional impairment has become an area of interest in neuropsychology. The current study used a sample of 40 older adults to determine if tests commonly used to assess visuospatial function and other cognitive domains in older adults are ecologically valid. Two methods of improving the ecological validity of neuropsychological testing were employed, verisimilitude and veridicality. Correlations, Fisher's r to z transformations, z-tests and stepwise multiple regression analyses suggested that a test of visuospatial function designed to simulate everyday visuospatial tasks was the best predictor of daily visuospatial function and global functional status in older adults but not significantly better than traditional neuropsychological tests of visuospatial function. Both traditional tests and the more ecologically valid tests significantly predicted daily function and were not statistically different in their predictive ability suggesting that the inclusion of both types of tests in evaluating older adults is warranted.
Subject:
Older people--Psychological testing
Subject:
Cognition in old age
Subject:
Visual perception
Subject:
Space perception
Subject:
Neuropsychological tests
Subject:
Instrumental activities of Daily Living
Subject:
Revised Observed Tasks of Daily Living
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
The authors of theses and dissertations are the copyright owners. Loyola Notre Dame Library has their permission to store and provide access to these works. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Permission is required to use materials for which Loyola Notre Dame Library, Loyola University Maryland, or Notre Dame of Maryland University hold copyright. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift of purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Identifier:
FarleyKL-10
