The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Group study design in neuropsychological research
Language	J
AuthorList	Etsuro Mori
Affiliation	Department of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 31 (1), 42-46, 2015
Received
Accepted
Abstract	Although the most typical design of neuropsychological research is case study design based on a single case or case series, the apparent limitations of such study designs are the vulnerability to the confounders and the very low generalizability of their results. The group study designs using a group of patients such as case control studies and cohort studies, which are now increasing, not only raise the validity of the findings but also expand the range of neuropsychology. In particular, neuropsychological researches in dementia expanded the possibilities of neuropsychology. They are based on subjects with more-or-less damage in a focal brain instead of those with all-or-none damage in a focal brain. Applicability of statistical neuroimage analyses is an apparent advantage. Not only cognitive functions but behavioral symptoms would be subjects in such studies. I also discuss the concerns and limitations, as well as the advantages, of group study design in neuropsychology.
Keywords	study design, neuropsychology, cohort study, case control study