Citation

Hawkins KA. Behav. Sci. Law 1995; 13(4): 491-503.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bsl.2370130405

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Neuropsychologists are frequently asked to determine the extent to which an individual displays compromised functioning as a consequence of alleged brain damage. Since IQ testing is commonplace, one method of evaluating consequences involves comparing postinjury IQ with an estimation of premorbid intelligence. Recognition that unaided clinical judgments are of questionable accuracy has prompted the development of actuarial formulae to estimate IQ based upon demographic information. One, the Barona Regression Formula (BRF), developed for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, has received recent endorsement in a widely read journal, which may lead to widespread use. Unfortunately, although the BRF appears to be empirically rigorous, and performs about as well as methods of this type could be expected to, it is insficiently valid to warrant more than extremely cautious employment in the individual case. The procedure shows greater promise with group data, but is less likely to be encountered in that usage. Reasons for viewing this and similar procedures as severely limited are discussed.

Language: en