Including individuals with memory impairment in the research process: the importance of scales and response categories used in surveys

Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE
Maura KrestarKatherine S Judge

Abstract

Several ethical considerations emerge when conducting research with memory-impaired individuals, including the individuals' ability to comprehend and accurately respond to survey questions. However, little empirical research exists on how to format surveys to decrease cognitive demands, thereby allowing researchers to more accurately survey this population. The current study presents data from structured interviews with 125 community-residing, memory-impaired older adults about their illness experience. The interview contained 14 scales varying in subjectivity, directionality, and response choice content. While objectivity did not affect participants' ability to use the full range of responses, participants with greater cognitive impairment tended to use simpler, dichotomous response categories, especially when questions had bidirectional response choices. Results suggest that memory-impaired individuals can participate in survey research, that such surveys should contain unidirectional frequency/amount items when possible, and that not all memory-impaired individuals will have difficulty completing surveys.

References

Nov 1, 1975·Journal of Psychiatric Research·M F FolsteinP R McHugh
Sep 1, 1990·Journal of Gerontology·R SchulzG M Williamson
Oct 1, 1990·The Gerontologist·L I PearlinM M Skaff
Feb 1, 1988·Biological Psychiatry·G S AlexopoulosC A Shamoian
Nov 1, 1971·Psychosomatics·W W Zung
Dec 1, 1980·The Gerontologist·S H ZaritJ Bach-Peterson
May 1, 1996·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·D M BassL R Rechlin
Jul 1, 1996·Psychological Review·T A Salthouse
Jan 5, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M LepageE Tulving
Oct 20, 2001·Ageing and Society·Murna Downs
May 22, 2002·Psychosomatic Medicine·Rebecca G LogsdonLinda Teri
Sep 21, 1963·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·S KATZM W JAFFE
Dec 22, 2009·The Gerontologist·Katherine S JudgeCarol J Whitlatch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 31, 2012·The Gerontologist·Nicole T DawsonKatherine S Judge
Apr 26, 2014·Alzheimer's Research & Therapy·David M BassMark E Kunik
Feb 26, 2016·Journal of Applied Gerontology : the Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society·Laura DarlakMark E Kunik
Sep 5, 2020·Alzheimer's & Dementia : Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·Silvia Orsulic-JerasJustin Johnson
Apr 2, 2016·European Journal of Ageing·Bärbel KnäuperNatalie O Rosen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Gerontologist
Katherine S JudgeCarol J Whitlatch
Clinical Nutrition : Official Journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Olivier GuérinBruno Vellas
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
R M ScoyniC Morocutti
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved