title: Effects of face masks and tele-neuropsychological assessment on memory performance for commonly used neuropsychological tests in New Zealand

authors: Benge, Olivia

subjects: Neuropsychological Assessment

abstract: Research has shown that using face masks within a neuropsychological assessment can negatively affect an individual's recall and recognition performance (Rodriguez, 2022; Smerdon, 2022; Truong & Weber, 2021). Similarly, previous literature states that administering neuropsychological assessment through videoconferencing software has also been found to negatively affect an individual's test performance during neuropsychological assessment (Zendel et al., 2021). These effects are thought to be explained by face masks and online assessments increasing cognitive load and, therefore, affecting working memory (Byyny, 2016; Lee et al., 2022). This study aims to extend previous literature by examining whether face masks and online home-based neuropsychological assessment affect memory test performance for cognitively healthy adults in New Zealand. The tests examined in this study are Logical Memory (WMS-IV), The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVLT), Digit Span and Letter Number Sequencing (WAIS-IV). Sixty-three participants were recruited through the University of Waikato, posters/flyers, Facebook, and researcher networks. All participants were screened for eligibility; inclusion criteria to participate were English being their primary language, no current illnesses, impairments, or medical conditions that may affect cognitive functioning (Mahon et al., 2021). Participants were placed into two groups (online or in-person). Each participant completed two test sessions in a counterbalanced order; one session was completed with the examiner wearing a face mask and one unmasked. A series of two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to investigate test performance differences between mask and location conditions. Results found no evidence to support that the use of face masks and online home-based assessment significantly affected examinee memory test performance. These findings support the feasibility of using face masks and online assessments to meet pandemic mandates.

text: Effects of face masks and tele-neuropsychological assessment on memory performance for commonly used neuropsychological tests in New Zealand Research has shown that using face masks within a neuropsychological assessment can negatively affect an individual's recall and recognition performance (Rodriguez, 2022; Smerdon, 2022; Truong & Weber, 2021). Similarly, previous literature states that administering neuropsychological assessment through videoconferencing software has also been found to negatively affect an individual's test performance during neuropsychological assessment (Zendel et al., 2021). These effects are thought to be explained by face masks and online assessments increasing cognitive load and, therefore, affecting working memory (Byyny, 2016; Lee et al., 2022). This study aims to extend previous literature by examining whether face masks and online home-based neuropsychological assessment affect memory test performance for cognitively healthy adults in New Zealand. The tests examined in this study are Logical Memory (WMS-IV), The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVLT), Digit Span and Letter Number Sequencing (WAIS-IV). Sixty-three participants were recruited through the University of Waikato, posters/flyers, Facebook, and researcher networks. All participants were screened for eligibility; inclusion criteria to participate were English being their primary language, no current illnesses, impairments, or medical conditions that may affect cognitive functioning (Mahon et al., 2021). Participants were placed into two groups (online or in-person). Each participant completed two test sessions in a counterbalanced order; one session was completed with the examiner wearing a face mask and one unmasked. A series of two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to investigate test performance differences between mask and location conditions. Results found no evidence to support that the use of face masks and online home-based assessment significantly affected examinee memory test performance. These findings support the feasibility of using face masks and online assessments to meet pandemic mandates.

year: 2023

title: Citizenship, democracy and social justice: A conversation with Maria Olson

authors: Peters, Michael A.

abstract: Maria Olson is a researcher and lecturer in Education at Stockholm University and the University of Skövde, Sweden. Her areas of interest include democracy and citizenship in relation to education. Her major fields are educational theory and educational philosophy. Her current publications include most recently a series of papers that develop themes of citizenship, democracy and social justice, including: “Citizenship Education without Citizenship? The Migrant in EU Policy on Participatory Citizenship – Toward the Margin through ‘Strangification,’” in R. Hedke and T. Zimenkova (eds.), Education for Civic and Political Participation: A Critical Approach (pp. 155–170). London: Routledge, 2012; “Citizenship ‘in Between’: The Local and the Global Scope of European Citizenship in Swedish Educational Policy,” in S. Goncales and M. A. Carpenter (eds.), Intercultural Policies and Education (pp. 193–203). New York: Peter Lang, 2012; “The European ‘We’: From Citizenship Policy to the Role of Education,” Studies in Philosophy and Education 31(1), 77–89, 2012; “Opening Discourses of Citizenship Education: Theorizing with Foucault” (with Nicoll, K., Fejes, A., Dahlstedt, M. & Biesta, G. J. J.), Journal of Education Policy, 2013 (forthcoming); “Democracy Lessons in Market-oriented Schools: The Case of Swedish Upper Secondary Education,” Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, online first, Doi: 10.1177/17461979134836842013 (with Lundahl, Lisbeth), 2013; “What Counts as Young People’s Civic Engagement in Times of Accountability? On the Importance of Maintaining Openness about Young People’s Civic Engagement in Education,” in M. Olson (ed.), Theme: Citizenship Education under Liberal Democracy. Utbildning & Demokrati [Education & Democracy] 21(1), 29–55, 2012.

text: Citizenship, democracy and social justice: A conversation with Maria Olson Maria Olson is a researcher and lecturer in Education at Stockholm University and the University of Skövde, Sweden. Her areas of interest include democracy and citizenship in relation to education. Her major fields are educational theory and educational philosophy. Her current publications include most recently a series of papers that develop themes of citizenship, democracy and social justice, including: “Citizenship Education without Citizenship? The Migrant in EU Policy on Participatory Citizenship – Toward the Margin through ‘Strangification,’” in R. Hedke and T. Zimenkova (eds.), Education for Civic and Political Participation: A Critical Approach (pp. 155–170). London: Routledge, 2012; “Citizenship ‘in Between’: The Local and the Global Scope of European Citizenship in Swedish Educational Policy,” in S. Goncales and M. A. Carpenter (eds.), Intercultural Policies and Education (pp. 193–203). New York: Peter Lang, 2012; “The European ‘We’: From Citizenship Policy to the Role of Education,” Studies in Philosophy and Education 31(1), 77–89, 2012; “Opening Discourses of Citizenship Education: Theorizing with Foucault” (with Nicoll, K., Fejes, A., Dahlstedt, M. & Biesta, G. J. J.), Journal of Education Policy, 2013 (forthcoming); “Democracy Lessons in Market-oriented Schools: The Case of Swedish Upper Secondary Education,” Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, online first, Doi: 10.1177/17461979134836842013 (with Lundahl, Lisbeth), 2013; “What Counts as Young People’s Civic Engagement in Times of Accountability? On the Importance of Maintaining Openness about Young People’s Civic Engagement in Education,” in M. Olson (ed.), Theme: Citizenship Education under Liberal Democracy. Utbildning & Demokrati [Education & Democracy] 21(1), 29–55, 2012.

year: 2013

title: A Journey Beyond the Bars: Participants' Experiences of Psychological Treatment in a Prison Setting

authors: Terrill, Damian James

subjects: Prison

abstract: This study explored the experiences of high-risk male offenders at varying stages of a prison-based residential rehabilitation programme. Information was elicited by means of 1:1 semi-structured interviews with three adult offenders: one programme completer, one approaching completion and one non-completer. The opinions of three members of unit staff (two programme facilitators and one custodial officer) were also included. Having identified a lack of process-focused qualitative research in the criminological literature, this thesis has attempted to provide an insight into the lived experiences of offenders undergoing a residential rehabilitative intervention. The results are presented through a combined postmodernist, social constructionist discourse. They identify a series of coherent themes which emphasise the importance of numerous contextual, linguistic and communicative variables in dictating the participants’ self-perspectives and engagement with treatment. I will examine in particular, the role of motivation, the importance of the therapeutic bond established between participants and therapists, the relevance of the therapeutic environment, and the impact of both bi-cultural therapy and notions of individual stigmatisation. The overall findings are related to the broader penological literature in order to inspire further experiential analyses of offenders undergoing treatment, and to offer points for consideration in the application of prison-based rehabilitative interventions.

text: A Journey Beyond the Bars: Participants' Experiences of Psychological Treatment in a Prison Setting This study explored the experiences of high-risk male offenders at varying stages of a prison-based residential rehabilitation programme. Information was elicited by means of 1:1 semi-structured interviews with three adult offenders: one programme completer, one approaching completion and one non-completer. The opinions of three members of unit staff (two programme facilitators and one custodial officer) were also included. Having identified a lack of process-focused qualitative research in the criminological literature, this thesis has attempted to provide an insight into the lived experiences of offenders undergoing a residential rehabilitative intervention. The results are presented through a combined postmodernist, social constructionist discourse. They identify a series of coherent themes which emphasise the importance of numerous contextual, linguistic and communicative variables in dictating the participants’ self-perspectives and engagement with treatment. I will examine in particular, the role of motivation, the importance of the therapeutic bond established between participants and therapists, the relevance of the therapeutic environment, and the impact of both bi-cultural therapy and notions of individual stigmatisation. The overall findings are related to the broader penological literature in order to inspire further experiential analyses of offenders undergoing treatment, and to offer points for consideration in the application of prison-based rehabilitative interventions.

year: 2010