The present study investigated the relationship between the subject variables Age, Gender, Education level, Occupational Status and "Race" on neuropsychological test performance in a large, convenient, non-clinical sample. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Wechsler Paired-Associate Learning Test and Digit Supraspan was administered to 329 adults in the age range 18 - 80. The relationship between the subject variables and test performance was analysed by ANOVA. It was found that a higher level of Education and a higher Occupational level was associated with superior performance, irrespective of "Race". Consistently significant ANOVA results were obtained for Education and Occupation and these variables also produced the most variation in test performance (percentage variance estimates ranged from 7 - 25%). Differences due to "Race" were marked at the lower levels of Education and Occupation and were minimal or absent at the higher levels of Education and Occupation. Age and Gender influenced test performance to a lesser extent. and performed less consistently. One exception was the influence of Age on performance on the Wechsler Paired Associate Learning I Test, where the contribution was relatively large (percentage variance 6 - 7%), where younger subjects (18 - 50) performed better than older subjects (51 - 80). Generally, the results were consistent with previously published data and highlight the need for more complete normative data. Local normative data that takes into account the influence of these variables on neuropsychological test performance needs to be developed.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2007. / Thesis advisor: C. Charles Mate-Kole. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in General Psychology" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-93). Also available via the World Wide Web.

This project represents a descriptive analysis of Forms I and II of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery and an investigation of the applicability of Item Response Theory in neuropsychological assessment. Test protocols of 1280 Form I examinees and 405 Form II examinees were analyzed by item and scale using Item Response Theory. The analysis consisted of investigation of the fit of LNNB data to the one and two-parameter IRT models, analysis of item and scale residuals and information values, comparison of traditional and IRT approaches in derivation of the Pathognomonic, Right Hemisphere and Left Hemisphere scales and comparison of two IRT approaches to the identification of biased items. In general, the one-parameter model did not fit the LNNB data. The two-parameter model, however provided a generally good fit to the data. Scale residuals and information functions indicate that the LNNB scales are unidimensional and accurately measure their underlying pyschological constructs. Item analysis identified several items on each scale that do not contribute to the measurement of the scalar trait. Suggestions were made for deletion, relocation or alteration of these items to improve their measurement properties. Substantial differences were found between Form I and Form II based on item characteristic curves and b-value differences. The nature of these differences suggested that the size and ability distribution of the Form II sample may have prevented accurate parameter estimation, obscuring the comparison of the two forms of the battery. A number of items on the Pathognomonic, right Hemisphere and Left Hemisphere scales were identified that contribute little to the measurement properties of these scales. Additional items not on these scales, were identified that are candidates for inclusion on these scales. Comparison of the statistical tests of b-value differences with ICC differences, for identification of potentially biased items, suggests that the latter method may be more efficacious in the neuropsychological domain. It is concluded that the LNNB is an accurate and content valid test of neuropsychological abilities; that IRT methods could improve the measurement properties of the scales and that ICC differences are an effective approach to item bias detection.

The distinction of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia was examined in relation to demographic, clinical and neuropsychological measures.

The Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (Dean, 1982) was developed to examine the neuropsychological symptomology presented by patients. It consists of 17 items that assess family/medical history that are responded to on a true/false format. In addition, there are 100 items which assess cognitive, emotional-social, sensory-perceptual, and behavioral symptomology, which are to be responded to on a Likert scale from 1 to 4.The present study investigated the validation of the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI) (Dean, 1982). In a series of investigations the construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the NSI were examined. Such procedures were considered essential to investigate the utility of the NSI.The subjects numbered 826, for the factor analysis study and the internal consistency analysis, which consisted of college students from introductory psychology classes, and patients seen in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Additionally, there were 132 subjects who participated in the study for test-retest.Utilizing a varimax rotation, a four factor solution was obtained for the NSI, accounting for 47.9 % of the total variance. The results demonstrated high internal consistency for the NSI, with an overall Alpha coefficient of .967. In addition, moderate test-retest estimates were found, ranging from .3365 for Factor 3 to .6223 for Factor 4.These results showed strong psychometric properties for the NSI and suggest its use as a viable alternative to currently available measures. Results are discussed in terms of a need for further refinement of the NSI. / Department of Educational Psychology

The present research concerned the validation of a neuropsychological screening measure. In a series of investigations the reliability, predictive validity and factor structure of the Ball Neuropsychological Screening Measure (BNSM) were examined.Such procedures were considered essential to investigate the utility of the BNSM.In a two part study, the reliability of the BNSM was investigated (Study 1). First, an attempt was made to determine BNSM test-retest reliability with the finding that subtest means on test and retest were too similar to permit interpretation. In the second portion of Study 1 the internal consistency of the BNSM was examined by computing Cronbach's alphas. The BNSM was found to have high internal consistency, producing an overall alpha coefficient of .951.A discriminant analysis was performed in study 2 to examine the utility of the BNSM in discriminating between normal and impaired adults.The BNSM was found to be highly accurate in this regard, achieving an overall correct placement prediction rate of 96%. Study 3 looked at the utility of the BNSM in correctly predicting lateralization of brain Impairment.The BNSM successfully predicted placement into three groups (Normals, Right-Hemispheric Impairment, LeftHemispheric Impairment) with 95% overall accuracy. Finally, the factor structure of the BNSM was examined in Study 4. Utilizing a varimax rotation, a two factor solution was found to account for 66.8% of the total variance. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceived anxiety experienced by coronary care nurses working eight- and 12-hour work shifts. It was hypothesized that length of shift work affects the before- and after-shift anxiety for nurses working eight or 12-hour work shifts. Anxiety differences between the eight- and 12-hour work shifts were examined as well as differences between the before- and after-shift anxiety for each length of shift.Thirty-two (32) coronary care nurses from a general medical and surgical hospital in the Midwest volunteered to participate in the research. The sample consisted of all females (18 Registered Nurses, nine Licensed Practical Nurses, three charge nurses, a supervisory nurse, and a rehabilitation nurse). The nurses had voluntarily selected the eight- or 12-hour length of shift work and understood that they would be committed to work that shift for one year. Twelve nurses worked the eight-hour shift; 20 nurses chose the new 12-hour shift.The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) was used to measure the nurses' before- and after-shift anxiety. Baseline data were collected from the nurses prior to the initiation of the 12-hour shift. The Box-Jenkins Time Series Analysis was used to analyze the daily before- and after-shift anxiety scores and to establish a forecasted trend for both the eight- and 12-hour shifts.The first finding was that the before-shift anxiety scores for the eight-hour workers declined, while the anxiety scores for the 12-hour workers increased, following the implementation of the 12-hour shift. The same trend was forecast for the after-shift anxiety scores. The eight-hour nurses' after-shift anxiety scores declined while the 12-hour nurses' anxiety scores increased. A transfer function was conducted for both the eight-hour and 12-hour before- and after-shift anxiety scores. No predictive trend could be established for the eight-hour anxiety scores; however, the 12-hour after-shift anxiety scores were found to be consistently higher than before-shift anxiety scores. / Department of Educational Psychology

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (February 17, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 190-198)

Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2000. / Thesis advisor: Charles Mate-Kole. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in [in Psychology]." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-60).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-104).