Scoring Rod-and-Frame Tests: Quantitative and Qualitative Considerations

Abstract

An examination of current scoring procedures on the rod-and-frame test showed that these procedures depend on unrealistic assumptions about subjects' performance on the rod-and-frame test. A more general scoring procedure with more realistic assumptions was outlined and illustrated. Like the 1974 Nyborg procedure, this one (a) corrects for constant error, an error unrelated to current concepts of field dependence, (b) is sensitive to a subject's response strategy and choice of cues, i.e., a subject's qualitative aspects of rod-and-frame test performance, and (c) discriminates consistent from inconsistent responding. However, unlike Nyborg's procedure, this one also expresses field dependence relative to maximal field dependence given a subject's response strategy and choice of cue and utilizes all available information. This procedure is useful for the investigation of qualitative and quantitative aspects of rod-and-frame test performance and individual differences in laterality bias as defined by a constant error. Since this scoring procedure relies on computer scoring, a FORTRAN program has been made available.