Base rates in neuropsychology.

Abstract

We reviewed studies that had investigated the classification accuracy of either the Halstead-Reitan or the Luria-Nebraska Test Battery to determine whether the authors reported the base rates of brain damage for the settings in which the research was conducted. Only one of the articles explicitly stated the base rate, and none of the remaining articles provided the information necessary for calculating the base rates. This review indicates the need for more information about base rates in clinical neuropsychological settings and the need for correct classification studies to provide this information when investigating the efficacy of neuropsychological tests.

Forensic neuropsychology and the criminal law.

“…The lack of base rates for neuropsychological disorders is a significant problem across all clinical settings (Duncan & Snow, 1987), and this is particularly true in forensic settings. However, recent epidemiological studies are beginning to provide estimates of the prevalence of abnormal brain conditions in various forensic populations.…”

Judgment research and neuropsychological assessment: A narrative review and meta-analyses.

“…Although empirical norms are widely used (e.g., Heaton, 1992;Heaton et al, 1991), neuropsychologists can also benefit from attending to the base rates for the different conditions and behaviors that they are trying to describe and predict (Duncan &Snow, 1987;Elwood, l993;Gordon, 1977;W.P.Jones, 1989;Satz, 1966;Satz, Fennell, & Reilly, 1970;Willis, 1984). In one study (Shagoury & Satz, 1969), judges (clinical psychologists and graduate students) made more accurate diagnoses of brain damage after base rate information was added to results of the Block Rotation Task (Satz, 1966).…”

“…Although empirical norms are widely used (e.g., Heaton, 1992; Heaton et al, 1991), neuropsychologists can also benefit from attending to the base rates for the different conditions and behaviors that they are trying to describe and predict (Duncan & Snow, 1987; Elwood, 1993; Gordon, 1977; W. P. Jones, 1989; Satz, 1966; Satz, Fennell, & Reilly, 1970; Willis, 1984).…”