title: Classification and regression tree analysis of a neurologically impaired and normal sample using sensory-motor tasks.
abstract: The ability to differentiate between neurologically impaired and normal individuals is an important component in a valid neuropsychological battery. However, limited research exists regarding the ability of sensory-motor batteries to differentiate between the two groups. This study used Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) to identify which measures of sensory-motor functioning from the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery (DWSMB) would best differentiate between neurologically impaired and normal individuals, as well as identify which subtests would provide the best pathognomic power. The results revealed that a number of clinically useful nodes emerged that enabled the differentiation between groups with a small number of tasks. The primary separation variable was the Gait and Station subtest, a measure of subcortical motor functioning. Auditory Acuity and Clock Construction also provide important pathognomic information. A cross validation was conducted to determine the integrity of the generated decision tree, and results revealed that the generated model correctly predicted 84.5% of the normal group and 71.4% of the neurologically impaired sample. The results from the present analysis provides further evidence for the construct validity of the DWSMB.
authors: Department of Educational Psychology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306, USA. davis@bsu.edu
authors: Andrew S
authors: AS
authors: Davis
authors: W Holmes
authors: WH
authors: Finch
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Trinkle
authors: Raymond S
authors: RS
authors: Dean
authors: Richard W
authors: RW
authors: Woodcock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*