We compared the original deck-based model of advantageous decision making assessed with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) with a trial-based approach across behavioral and physiological outcomes in 33 younger adults (15 men, 18 women; 22.2 [plus or minus] 3.7 years of age). One administration of the IGT with simultaneous measurement of skin conductance…

Whereas neuroimaging studies of healthy subjects have demonstrated an association between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cognitive control functions, including response monitoring and error detection, lesion studies are sparse and have produced mixed results. Due to largely normal behavioral test results in two patients with medial…

Modern factor analysis is the outgrowth of Spearman's original "2-factor" model of intelligence, according to which a mental test score is regarded as the sum of a general factor and a specific factor. As early as 1914, Godfrey Thomson realized that the data did not require this interpretation and he demonstrated this by proposing what became…

Eighty practitioners with varying levels of experience in the administration of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC)) completed a K-ABC Abilities Matrix to indicate their perceptions of the specific abilities assessed by each of the 10 K-ABC Mental Processing subtests. In only one-half of the judgments did the majority of…

On the occasion of Psychometrika's fiftieth anniversary, the past twenty-five years' developments in mental test theory are reviewed. Psychometrika articles treating topics in test theory are listed in a bibliography. (Author/LMO)

Describes cognitive deficits that are attributable to alcoholism and discusses the prospect for recovery of these impaired skills. Considers the potential treatment role of neuropsychological testing and its implication for alcoholism counselors. (Author/KS)

Investigated the usefulness of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNB) in discriminating normal from learning-disabled young adults. Results supported previous research in demonstrating both that normals perform more adequately than brain-damaged subjects on all HRNB tests, and that normal and brain-damaged subjects can be…

Reviews the results of four studies included in this issue of "School Psychology Quarterly" which found all four cognitive profile reports lacking reliability, validity, or diagnostic utility. Argues that ipsative methods are inferior to normative methods in cognitive assessment. Recommends that psychologists eschew the application of…

Examines psychometric characteristics of the 100-item Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) in a sample of 370 psychiatric inpatients and psychotherapy outpatients. Post hoc multiple regression analyses indicated that client age, sex, inpatient versus outpatient status, childhood sexual and physical abuse, and adult sexual assault were unique predictors…

Examined stability of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for 53 at-risk preschool children. Over 9 months the stability coefficients for the global scales ranged from .78 to .88, and for the subtests from .65 to .79. Concluded that scores display adequate stability, but the Simultaneous scale is less stable than the Sequential or Achievement scales.…

Compared the performance of Caucasian kindergartners (N=60) on the Stanford Binet, the Leiter International Performance Scale, and the Metropolitan Achievement Test. Results confirmed that the LIPS measures mental traits similar to the SB, although some scores were different. The LIPS is especially useful with hearing or speech impaired children.…

Explored validity of new clinical test of verbal memory incorporating constructs from normal and pathological memory research, to quantify the ways examinees learn verbal material. Factor analyses of normal subjects and neurological patients indicated that verbal memory consisted of a number of component factors, reflecting learning strategy,…

Presents the results of a study in which students undertaking postgraduate (PhD) research were given a small battery of psychological tests, the scores from which were then related to ratings provided by academic tutors. The results are discussed and some explanations are suggested. A 31-item reference list is included. (Author/JL)

Assessed the degree of comparability between the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (McCarthy) and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) for "at-risk" (low birthweight, Head Start, and developmentally delayed) and "normal" preschool children. Describes the K-ABC Mental Processing Composite (MPC) and McCarthy…

Investigated the validity of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) with a sample of black low socioeconomic status preschool children enrolled in a Head Start program. Used the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale as a criterion. Demonstrated convergent and construct validity, but suggests that the K-ABC is no more culture fair for…