Using games as neuropsychological tests with children with ABI (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the use of board games as neuropsychological tests with children with acquired brain injury.
IRAS ID
199174
Contact name
Patrick Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East london
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Neuropsychological tests are used with children and young people (CYP) with acquired brain injury (ABI) to estimate cognitive functioning. However, the controlled conditions these tests are administered under makes it difficult to predict everyday functioning from results. These test conditions also create anxiety, which reduces test validity and makes it difficult to foster a relationship with CYP in rehabilitation.
This study examines whether:(i) Structured versions of Guess Who? and Connect 4 provide estimates of cognitive functioning similar to established neuropsychological tests.
(ii) Scores on these games are predictive of “real-world” difficulties as rated by caregivers and therapists.
(iii) These games provoke less anxiety and oppositional behaviour for CYP with ABI when compared with traditional neuropsychological tests.
Participants with ABI will be recruited from a service in London providing inpatient and outpatient care and rehabilitation for CYP with ABI 18 years and under. CYP under 8 years or with severe impairments (whether pre- or post-injury) will not be recruited. Additionally, healthy participants will be recruited from schools in the London area.
Participants will be recruited for nine months until February 2017.
All participants will complete 6 games each of Guess Who? and Connect 4. They will also complete established measures of cognitive function. Participants will complete ratings scales of anxiety after completing the games and tests. Caregivers and therapeutic staff will complete "proxy measures" that describe the participants’ everyday functioning.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0331
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion