Response Sets on the Rod-and-Frame Test in Neurologically Impaired Ss

Abstract

30 male and 30 female patients with confirmed central nervous system pathology were administered the Rod-and-frame Test (RFT) as part of an extensive neuropsychological evaluation. The RFT data were examined for the presence of response sets. While sex groups did not display as strong a tendency toward response sets as did a college group, they matched a technical engineering group more closely. The tendency to favor the left side of the vertical noted in earlier studies was not observed in the neurologically impaired groups. Instead, they had a strong tendency to err in the direction of the frame. The possible relationship between psychometric intelligence and response sets was discussed as well as some of the possible underlying visual perceptual mechanisms that may contribute to response sets on the RFT.