Boston Process Approach Flashcards
In normal human cognitive processing
different cognitive subcomponents are used
Will all people use the same cognitive components in the same way in the Boston approach?
No
Where is the emphasis in the boston approach?
Emphasis is on observing the quality of the patient’s responses – in particular the nature of the errors they make – to determine the strategy applied
Core set of tests are used, but
but it is not a “battery approach” because the techniques can be applied to any tests
“Satellite tests” used to
follow up initial tests findings in areas where impairment is identified
Many standard tests are used. However…
The method of recording responses is modified so as to allow qualitative analysis: verbatim responses; detailed sequence to patient’s responses on constructional tasks
Emphasize testing the limits, which means….
encouragement to obtain patient’s best response
especially important encourage some type of response other than “I don’t know”
this type of encouragement to attempt a response is especially important for patient’s whose premorbid functioning suggests they are / were capable of a better response
continuing past discontinuation rules
allowing extra time
important to distinguish the effects of slowness from specific inability to do task
Pluses
equally as accurate in diagnosing brain damage as “battery approaches”
may be superior in cases where patient is able to finish tests in allotted time but impairment is noted in quality of performance
identifies quality of cognitive deficits and strengths to use as a basis of rehab
Minuses
not all qualitative features are present for all patients
relying too heavily on qualitative analysis can result in bias / misjudgment
qualitative approach not normative and can result in judgment errors
normal aging produces changes similar to frontal lobe damage
at times difficult to know how to accommodate for education / premorbid level of functioning in qualitative analysis e.g. Boston Naming Test
