Common Misconceptions

Misconceptions and ill founced assumptions underlying clinical application of Neuropsycholgical Procedures.

1. Good clinical decisions are based on psychometrics.

2. Symptom characteristics and Demographics often provide essential data -- yet these data are not incorporated in statistical analyses.

3. Emotional factors interact with cognitive measures in ways that are not yet clearly understood.

4. There is almost always a lack of homogenous subgroups.

5. Tests do not contribute equally to clinical decisions.

6. Sound research and sound medical diagnosis - not made from test data -- Rather, hypothesis are formulated and the data are used to support or refute. (It would appear that the same is true for neuropsychological decisions.
   1. Can't function effectively looking up scores in tables.
   2. Can't perform regression mentally.
   3. Can't avoid biases (frequency / recency).
   4. Can't improve unless arrange for feedback regarding decisions.

*Must avoid assumptions in the absence of data. (Hypothesis testing).*