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The Japanese journal of neuropsychology
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Full Text of this Article
in Japanese PDF (243K)
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ArticleTitle
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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 |
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Accepted |
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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 |
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