COTEMPORARY STUDY: SEBASTIAN AND HERNANDEZ-GIL (2012)

Question 1

Evaluate Sebastian and Hernandez-Gil

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Answer 1

fvFTD comparison sample only 9ppt, >generalisability. >Power of statistical tests. Type 1 error ^likely. Findings in dementia group only due to >sample. Study may not have enough statistical power to reject null

^int reliability, standardised procedures. Digits read aloud at constant of 1/sec for every ppt. Outcomes can’t be attributed to diff in how procedure was conducted. Control confounding variables

Those w longer digit span = better readers, ^general IQ (Gignac). Short digit span associated with specific learning disorder - dyslexia (Giofre et al)

Question 2

What was the aim of Sebastian Hernandez-Gil’s study?

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Answer 2

• Confirm Anglo Saxon ppt digit span^ w age then levels off at 15 yrs

Question 3

What was the procedure of Sebastian Hernandez-Gil’s study?

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Answer 3

• 575 children, primary school (all born Spain)
• Selected from all school yrs (5-17yr olds)
• Materials = sequences of digits that increased by 1 in length each time (read aloud to each ppt)
  1) 3 sequences of 3 digits, then 3 seq of 4 digits ext.
  2) Digit span = longest seq child could recall, 2x/3 presented, in order without error

Question 4

What did Sebastian Hernandez-Gil find?

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Answer 4

• 5yr olds = lowest avg digit span
• Digit span^ up to 11yrs
• Stabilised up to 17yrs
• Patients w fvFTD, digit span similar to 5 and 6 yr old children

Question 5

What did Sebastian Hernandez-Gil conclude?

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Answer 5

• > Digit span for Spanish children

- Word length effect (^time to rehearse longer words, more info likely to be lost)