Work

Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Validity of Neuropsychological Memory Tests for Use in Aotearoa New Zealand

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Neuropsychological memory testing is vital in the assessment of neurological conditions but evidence suggests that cultural factors can significantly impact upon the validity of the scores obtained. The lack of normative data for different populations may lead to misleading scores/inappropriate diagnoses. The present study aimed to assess clinicians’ perspectives around the validity of memory tests for use in NZ. Clinicians (n = 76) across NZ answered an online survey assessing the perceived validity of memory tests within the domains of working memory, visual learning and retrieval, auditory learning and retrieval, and prospective and autobiographical memory. Several of the most commonly used tests with a large language component were judged as lacking validity amongst clinicians. Current findings provide further evidence that common neuropsychological tests may lack validity and that the development of NZ-normative data and/or NZ specific tests are now long overdue.

Source: New Zealand journal of psychology

DOI: 10.63146/001c.141653

Authors: Grace Johnstone, Josh W Faulkner, Katie M Douglas, Paul M Skirrow

Institutions: University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington

Language: English

Topic: Psychological Testing and Assessment

Subfield: Applied Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Health Research Council of New Zealand