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B A Maher

Publications and source records attributed to B A Maher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Cloze analysis in schizophrenic speech: scoring method and raters' education.

This report examines two methodologic concerns pertaining to use of the cloze procedure in studying the predictability of schizophrenic speech, scoring criteria and raters' education (at or below college level). We find that two strategies for scoring the predictions of raters, one requiring the exact word, the other permitting a reasonable synonym, do not appear to differ in distinguishing groups of patients. The accuracy of raters' guessing is, however, correlated with raters' education: the more educated the rater, the more accurate the guessing. Thought-disordered schizophrenic speech is significantly less predictable than that of nonthought-disordered schizophrenics and normal controls when scored by less educated raters. These differences diminish when more highly educated raters are used. We conclude that raters' education can influence the sensitivity of cloze analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

An assessment technique for children with auditory-language processing problems.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new multilayer clinical assessment technique to evaluate auditory-language processing abilities in children. Following a 90-min in-service workshop on auditory-language processing problems, 46 nonhandicapped first-, second-, and third-grade students were referred by their classroom teachers for an evaluation of auditory-language processing abilities. Twelve "normally" achieving first-, second-, and third-grade students were randomly selected as controls. Standardized and nonstandardized measures included a pure tone and impedance test, selected subtests of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Functions (Linguistic Concepts, Relationships and Ambiguities, Oral Directions, Spoken Paragraphs, Word Associations, and Model Sentences), the Goldman-Fristoe-Woodcock (GFW) Memory for Sequence Test, Sound Mimicry Test, Sound-Symbol Association Test, and the GFW Test of Auditory Discrimination. Nonstandardized measures included an Observational Profile of Classroom Communication and an informal language sample. Results indicated 87% of 46 (n = 40) children were identified as having auditory-language processing problems. In-service training was an effective means to heighten teachers' awareness for referring subjects. Additionally, the Observational Profile of Classroom Communication was an effective procedure for teachers to systematically observe and document communication behaviors in the context of the classroom.

Auditory Perceptual Disorders↗
PubMed1987

Impoverished written responses and negative features of schizophrenia.

Repetition in the written language of schizophrenics and its possible relationships to other aspects of schizophrenic disorders are not well understood. We investigated repetitiousness in written utterances, finding schizophrenic subjects to be more repetitive than affective controls and normal controls. Over-all, written repetitiousness was more strongly correlated with psychopathologic features than oral repetitiousness. As in previous work, thought-disordered schizophrenic subjects produced the most repetitive responses. Poverty of content and illogical thinking were correlated with scores for written repetition. Measures of other negative features, disturbed mental functioning and motor behavior were also associated with repetitiousness in both written and oral modes. That these negative features are linked (namely, linguistic repetitiousness, negative formal thought disorder, voluntary motor abnormalities, and deficient mental functioning) is consistent with Crow's concept of a defect syndrome (Type 2) in schizophrenia.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Deficient motor synchrony in schizophrenic disorders: clinical correlates.

A laboratory measure of synchronization was used to assess the differential ability of schizophrenics, affectives, and normal controls to take advantage of stimulus predictability. It was hypothesized that (1) schizophrenics will perform on this task in a way that distinguishes them from other groups, (2) clinically observed motor anomalies will be associated with deficient motor synchrony, and (3) deficient motor synchrony will be associated with more severe clinical ratings of thought disorder. Twenty-one schizophrenic, 8 affective, and 16 normal controls were studied. The results were consistent with the hypotheses; schizophrenic subjects had distinctive performance patterns, especially at 40 bpm, which was associated with both motor and thinking disturbance. The authors discuss additional analyses that suggest that deficient motor synchrony is associated with negative symptoms, certain ward behaviors, and not with demographic variables, and that among unmedicated schizophrenic subjects, the performance patterns are worse.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The type--token ratio in schizophrenic disorders: clinical and research value.

Prior research has indicated that the type-token ratio (TTR), a measure of repetition in language, correlates with clinical judgements of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and differentiates statistically thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. We replicated this finding and examined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the TTR measure in the diagnosis and in the assessment of thought disorder. The current clinical value of the TTR is limited, but further investigations of the nature of repetition in schizophrenic language are warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Formal thought disorder, the type-token ratio and disturbed voluntary motor movement in schizophrenia.

Little work has been done to determine objective, reliable differences in formal characteristics of the actual utterances of thought-disordered and non-thought-disordered subjects. The type-token ratio (TTR), a quantitative measure of repetition in language, correlated highly with clinical judgments of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and statistically differentiated thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. Elicited and spontaneous motor abnormalities were associated with reduced TTRs both in schizophrenics and in affective subjects with motor disturbance. The TTR is a reliable, objective indicator of language deviance and thought disorder, and strongly associated with motor disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The predictability of thought disordered speech in schizophrenic patients.

Previous research has resulted in inconsistent findings regarding the predictability of schizophrenic speech samples. It was hypothesized that the predictability of schizophrenic speech varies as a function of clinically manifest thought disorder. In an experiment based on the Cloze procedure, raters were asked to predict ten passages of schizophrenic speech and eight passages of normal speech under conditions of fourth- and fifth-word deletion. Differences emerged between the samples only for the fifth-word deletion procedure. When the schizophrenic samples were grouped according to the presence of thought disorder, thought-disordered speech was significantly less predictable than normal and non-thought disordered schizophrenic speech. Furthermore, non-thought-disordered schizophrenic speech was no less predictable than normal speech. It is concluded that schizophrenia should be more carefully defined and that thought disorder should be routinely assessed in future investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

A longitudinal study of the genetics of personality.

A longitudinal twin study was conducted to determine whether personality traits with significant heritability in adolescence remain so in adulthood. A subsample of a group of twins who had been administered in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the California Psychological Inventory in adolescence was readministered the same two inventories 12 years later. The subsample was found to be representative of the sample from which it was drawn. Different patterns of significantly heritability were found for the two ages studied: Several personality traits demonstrated evidence of significant heritability in either adolescence or adulthood, while others demonstrated evidence of significant heritability at both ages. In addition, genetic influences on the change from adolescence to adulthood were found for several personality traits. The results raise important questions for the interpretation of twin research and the understanding of genetic influences on personality development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

Jules Holzberg.

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History, 20th Century↗