Application of the correct information unit analysis to the naturally occurring conversation of a person with aphasia.
The Correct Information Unit (CIU) analysis for measuring the communicative informativeness and efficiency of connected speech (Nicholas & Brookshire, 1993) was applied to the naturally occurring conversation of a person with moderate aphasia. Results indicated that, in this instance, reliable CIU measures could not be obtained. Intrarater reliability for CIU and %CIU was low, reaching only 72%, and interrater reliability was never greater than 63%. However, reliability of word counts was good. Post hoc analysis of rater disagreements in application of the CIU analysis revealed that the majority (72%) resulted from insufficiencies in the scoring rules that were originally designed to measure single speaker connected discourse. Two descriptive categories of disagreements were identified: interpretations of informativeness and absence of rules. The remaining 28% of disagreements were attributable to human error in the application of scoring rules. Comparison of findings with previous research and implications for future research are discussed.
Oelschlaeger
M L
ML
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. mary.oelschlaeger@nua.edu
Thorne
J C
JC
D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013068:Speech Production Measurement