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Ethnicity, Education, and Linguistic Effects on Verbal Fluency Tasks in American Elders

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Date Issued:
2008
Summary:
Educational level affects various neuropsychological measures including performance on verbal fluency tasks. It is still unclear how this effect may differ across the different types of fluency tasks (i.e. animals,fruits, vegetables and clothing) and across American ethnic groups (Hispanics, Europeans, Africans, and African Carib beans) using different languages (English and Spanish). Using a sample of 140 normal elder Americans (ages 57 to 88; 38M/ 102F) divided into two education groups (7-11 and> 12 years of education), results showed strong association with performance for education on the categories fruits and clothing and for ethnicity on the total items generated and number of switches for vegetables. Differences between Spanish and English speakers were found for the fruits category. Results suggest that the animal category is the best one to be used to reduce potential effects of education in individuals with more than 7 years of education.
Title: Ethnicity, Education, and Linguistic Effects on Verbal Fluency Tasks in American Elders.
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Name(s): Zoller, Yaron Joseph, author
Rosselli, Monica, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2008
Date Issued: 2008
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 60 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Educational level affects various neuropsychological measures including performance on verbal fluency tasks. It is still unclear how this effect may differ across the different types of fluency tasks (i.e. animals,fruits, vegetables and clothing) and across American ethnic groups (Hispanics, Europeans, Africans, and African Carib beans) using different languages (English and Spanish). Using a sample of 140 normal elder Americans (ages 57 to 88; 38M/ 102F) divided into two education groups (7-11 and> 12 years of education), results showed strong association with performance for education on the categories fruits and clothing and for ethnicity on the total items generated and number of switches for vegetables. Differences between Spanish and English speakers were found for the fruits category. Results suggest that the animal category is the best one to be used to reduce potential effects of education in individuals with more than 7 years of education.
Identifier: FA00000857 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008.
Subject(s): Educational tests and measurements
Cognition--Social aspects
Cognition--Age factors
Neuropsychology--Cross-cultural studies
Ethnopsychology--Cross-cultural studies
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000857
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.