Revisiting the Global Measures of Overall Neuropsychological Function and the Impact of Race-Based Normative Data in Clinical and Forensic Populations

Philadelphia, PA

This study aims to examine the impact of race-based normative data on global measures of overall neuropsychological functioning. Further, it examines the changes made to the Average Impairment Rating (AIR) in the context of race-based norming and the dismissal of a previously included measure, Picture Arrangement. The AIR is a commonly used index to classify the severity of diffuseness related to brain injury. Despite its use, the AIR has a very limited body of research describing the impact of racial norming on the index. Based on a review of the literature, the Picture Arrangement subtest removal was never researched in regard to the impact on the AIR, thus the results of this study would clarify its impact. It is hypothesized that the removal of Picture Arrangement will reclassify the diffuseness and classification of brain disease using the AIR. Further, this study will observe the differences between the AIR and other cognitive measures of overall neuropsychological functioning, such as the General Neuropsychology Deficit Scale (GNDS) and the Halstead Impairment Index (HII) in the context of race-based norms. This study will illuminate the importance or not of including Picture Arrangement in an overall measure of diffuseness such as the AIR and the impact of including, or not, race as a demographic variable to control in the development of neuropsychological norms.