Do "we just know"? Masked assessors' ability to accurately identify children with prenatal cocaine exposure.
This study evaluated perceptions of masked assessors to determine whether there are subtle differences in cocaine-exposed and unexposed children who might be identified by those interacting with children. As part of a longitudinal study, developmental assessors were masked to 163 4-year-old children's actual in utero cocaine exposure status and developmental history. After each battery, assessors documented their guesses of the child's cocaine exposure. Thirty-seven percent of the children who were exposed were misclassified as unexposed, whereas 74% of those unexposed were incorrectly classified as exposed. Although the sample did not differ on assessment scores when results were analyzed by actual cocaine exposure status ( >.3), children who did less well on assessments were more likely to be labeled by assessors as cocaine-exposed ( <.001). Results highlight the potential of stereotyping and negative attributions that might distort observations, both in unmasked studies of prenatal cocaine exposure and in clinical settings.
Rose-Jacobs
Ruth
R
Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. rrosejac@bu.edu
Cabral
Howard
H
Posner
Michael A
MA
Epstein
Jennifer
J
Frank
Deborah A
DA
D000328:Adult; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013240:Stereotyping