Comparability of developmental cognitive assessments between standard and computer testing methods.

Full Abstract

Substantial questions have been raised about the validity of using computer-based testing to assess cognitive development with young children. However, little work has been done to assess the comparability of performance elicited using computerized methods with performance garnered using standard testing methods. The purpose of this study was to establish whether computerized testing resulted in performance that was different than established performance norms for infant monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) tested on four highly used cognitive tasks. Infants performed comparably on simple discrimination, reversal learning, and delayed nonmatch to sample rule learning. However, the infants tested in a computer testing-environment appeared to have difficulty on a task that required them to form response strategies. The results of the study reveal some apparent limitations of computer-based testing with infants, but do show that performance on several common cognitive tasks is comparable between the environments.

Author information

Author/s: Mandell, Dorothy J (DJ); Sackett, Gene P (GP);

Affiliation: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. dmandell(-atsign-)fmg.uva.nl

Grants: HD02274 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; RR00166 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Developmental psychobiology (Dev Psychobiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jan; vol 51 (issue 1) : pp 1-13

Dates: Created 2008/12/29; Completed 2009/04/28;

PMID: 18688805, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/28/2009, IMS Date: 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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