Question hard, answer simply: a comment on Storms et al. (2003).
It seems clear that, for whatever reasons, the dementia of the Alzheimer type patient group (as well as other patient groups) exhibits behavior that is different from the normal control group. G. Storms, T. Dirikx, J. Saerens, S. Verstraeten, and P. P. De Deyn (2003) rightfully argue that the observed behavior (similarity judgments) does not tell us the source (cause) of the differences between the 2 groups. Rather, the focus of the study should be placed more on finding the ways the 2 groups are different. They also point out various methodological problems in some of the previous attempts to characterize the nature of the differences. Further methodological issues in G. Storms et al.'s study are examined.
Takane
Yoshio
Y
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. takane@takane2.psych.mcgill.ca
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D012660:Semantics