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de Chiusole D, Spinoso M, Anselmi P, Bacherini A, Balboni G, Mazzoni N, Brancaccio A, Epifania OM, Orsoni M, Giovagnoli S, Garofalo S, Benassi M, Robusto E, Stefanutti L, Pierluigi I. PsycAssist: A Web-Based Artificial Intelligence System Designed for Adaptive Neuropsychological Assessment and Training. Brain Sci 2024; 14:122. [PMID: 38391697 PMCID: PMC10886469 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14020122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Assessing executive functions in individuals with disorders or clinical conditions can be challenging, as they may lack the abilities needed for conventional test formats. The use of more personalized test versions, such as adaptive assessments, might be helpful in evaluating individuals with specific needs. This paper introduces PsycAssist, a web-based artificial intelligence system designed for neuropsychological adaptive assessment and training. PsycAssist is a highly flexible and scalable system based on procedural knowledge space theory and may be used potentially with many types of tests. We present the architecture and adaptive assessment engine of PsycAssist and the two currently available tests: Adap-ToL, an adaptive version of the Tower of London-like test to assess planning skills, and MatriKS, a Raven-like test to evaluate fluid intelligence. Finally, we describe the results of an investigation of the usability of Adap-ToL and MatriKS: the evaluators perceived these tools as appropriate and well-suited for their intended purposes, and the test-takers perceived the assessment as a positive experience. To sum up, PsycAssist represents an innovative and promising tool to tailor evaluation and training to the specific characteristics of the individual, useful for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora de Chiusole
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Matilde Spinoso
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Anselmi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alice Bacherini
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Balboni
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Noemi Mazzoni
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Andrea Brancaccio
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Ottavia M Epifania
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Orsoni
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Sara Giovagnoli
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Sara Garofalo
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Benassi
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Egidio Robusto
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Stefanutti
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Irene Pierluigi
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Raudenbush SW, Hernandez M, Goldin-Meadow S, Carrazza C, Foley A, Leslie D, Sorkin JE, Levine SC. Longitudinally adaptive assessment and instruction increase numerical skills of preschool children. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:27945-27953. [PMID: 33106414 PMCID: PMC7668039 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002883117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Social inequality in mathematical skill is apparent at kindergarten entry and persists during elementary school. To level the playing field, we trained teachers to assess children's numerical and spatial skills every 10 wk. Each assessment provided teachers with information about a child's growth trajectory on each skill, information designed to help them evaluate their students' progress, reflect on past instruction, and strategize for the next phase of instruction. A key constraint is that teachers have limited time to assess individual students. To maximize the information provided by an assessment, we adapted the difficulty of each assessment based on each child's age and accumulated evidence about the child's skills. Children in classrooms of 24 trained teachers scored 0.29 SD higher on numerical skills at posttest than children in 25 randomly assigned control classrooms (P = 0.005). We observed no effect on spatial skills. The intervention also positively influenced children's verbal comprehension skills (0.28 SD higher at posttest, P < 0.001), but did not affect their print-literacy skills. We consider the potential contribution of this approach, in combination with similar regimes of assessment and instruction in elementary schools, to the reduction of social inequality in numerical skill and discuss possible explanations for the absence of an effect on spatial skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W Raudenbush
- Department of Sociology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637;
- Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Marc Hernandez
- Department of Education and Child Development, National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Susan Goldin-Meadow
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Cristina Carrazza
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Alana Foley
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Debbie Leslie
- UChicago STEM Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Janet E Sorkin
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Susan C Levine
- Committee on Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
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Abstract
In knowledge space theory, existing adaptive assessment procedures can only be applied when suitable estimates of their parameters are available. In this paper, an iterative procedure is proposed, which upgrades its parameters with the increasing number of assessments. The first assessments are run using parameter values that favor accuracy over efficiency. Subsequent assessments are run using new parameter values estimated on the incomplete response patterns from previous assessments. Parameter estimation is carried out through a new probabilistic model for missing-at-random data. Two simulation studies show that, with the increasing number of assessments, the performance of the proposed procedure approaches that of gold standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Anselmi
- Department FISPPA, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 , Padua, Italy.
| | - Egidio Robusto
- Department FISPPA, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 , Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Stefanutti
- Department FISPPA, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 , Padua, Italy
| | - Debora de Chiusole
- Department FISPPA, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 , Padua, Italy
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Ruiter SAJ, Nakken H, van der Meulen BF, Lunenborg CB. Low Motor Assessment: A Comparative Pilot Study with Young Children With and Without Motor Impairment. J Dev Phys Disabil 2010; 22:33-46. [PMID: 20157361 PMCID: PMC2817083 DOI: 10.1007/s10882-009-9165-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Most of the developmental instruments that measure cognitive development in children rely heavily on fine motor skills, especially for young children whose language skills are not yet well developed. This is problematic when evaluating the cognitive development of young children with motor impairment. The purpose of this study is to assess the need for a Low Motor adapation of a standardized instrument when testing children with motor impairment. To accomplish this, we have adapted the procedures, item instructions and play material of a widely used and standardized instrument, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Second Edition (BSID-II, Bayley 1993). The Original and the Low Motor versions were administered to 20 children experiencing typical development and 19 children with motor impairment within a period of two weeks. Results showed that children with motor impairments scored significantly higher on the Low Motor version of the Bayley Mental Scale than on the Original version: a difference of between 5 and 10 points when the score is expressed in terms of a developmental index score. Results from children with typical development support the assumption that item content and difficulty remain unchanged in the Low Motor version.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Anne José Ruiter
- Department of Special Needs, Education and Child Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Han Nakken
- Department of Special Needs, Education and Child Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bieuwe F. van der Meulen
- Department of Special Needs, Education and Child Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolien B. Lunenborg
- Department of Special Needs, Education and Child Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands
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