Conceptual impulsivity as a consideration in test interpretation

✍ Scribed by Howard Margolis; Gary G. Brannigan

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 246 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3085
• DOI: 10.1002/1520-6807(197610)13:4<484::aid-pits2310130427>3.0.co;2-m

✦ Synopsis

A discussion of the influences of impulsivity on test performance is presented, along with suggested procedures for ascertaining more accurately the cognitive abilities of impulsive children.

While psychoeducational assessment relies heavily on test responses, diagnosticians often fail t o consider the extent t o which the child reflected upon alternative solutions prior to responding. Not knowing t o what extent impulsivity has interfered with an accurate assessment of a child's abilities can lead to spurious test interpretations resulting in instructional programs emphasizing the strengthening of areas that are not as deficient as test scores indicate.

The importance of ascertaining the effects of impulsivity on test performance is highlighted by the results of several investigations defining conceptual impulsivity and reflectivity according to performance on Kagan's (1965) Matching Familiar