title: Ecological validity of pediatric neuropsychological measures: current state and future directions.
abstract: Neuropsychologists are increasingly requested to identify specific deficits in cognitive abilities and determine the ways in which these deficits will affect a client's everyday functioning. The demand for prescriptive diagnostic endeavors that provide recommendations for rehabilitation has drawn attention to the necessity of considering the ecological validity of instruments. Most of the current knowledge regarding the ecological validity of neuropsychological measures is the result of studies examining adult and older adult populations. The relationship of test performance and everyday functioning in children has been less examined and is, therefore, less understood. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief history of ecological validity in neuropsychology, discuss why this is an important consideration when working with child populations, and provide suggestions for continued research in this field.
authors: College of Graduate and Professional Studies, John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA. kolson2@jfku.edu
authors: Katie
authors: K
authors: Olson
authors: Kristin K
authors: KK
authors: Jacobson
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Van Oot
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005544:Forecasting; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results