A convergent-divergent approach to context processing, general intellectual functioning, and the genetic liability to schizophrenia.
Convergent and divergent validity are critically important in developing psychological measures that reveal interpretable deficits in disordered populations. This article reports on 2 studies that evaluated the validity of context processing measures. In Experiment 1, a confirmatory factor analysis of data from 481 healthy adults established the convergent validity of 2 context processing measures and showed that context processing accounted for significant amounts of variance in standard IQ and working memory measures. In Experiment 2, 20 schizophrenia patients, 16 of their healthy siblings, and 28 controls were evaluated using a novel, short context processing measure, the dot pattern expectancy (DPX) task. The DPX was sensitive to specific deficits in schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings. These findings support the construct validity of context processing measures, suggest context processing is a component of intellectual functioning, and demonstrate that brief context processing measures remain sensitive to psychopathological deficits.
MacDonald
Angus W
AW
University of Minnesota.
Goghari
Vina M
VM
University of Minnesota.
Hicks
Brian M
BM
University of Minnesota.
Flory
Janine D
JD
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Carter
Cameron S
CS
Center for Neuroimaging, University of California.
Manuck
Stephen B
SB
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh.
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D035781:Siblings