Dr. Stephen Greenspan on the definition of MR/ID: The definition is all (or mostly) wet.

In his speech when accepting the 2011 APA Division 33 Jacobson award, Stephen Greenspan made the following comment

Unfortunately, the typical Atkins hearing is less a quest for the truth about individuals than it is a quest for the truth about IQ or adaptive behavior test scores. This is not a new concern, but the much higher stakes in capital cases bring the inadequacies in defining and diagnosing ID into greater relief. Unfortunately, the “physics emulation” phenomenon seems to be getting worse rather than better, in part because the same “scientistic” (superficial embrace of scientific trappings) emphasis on SD‐based cutting scores that has characterized the prong one (intelligence) now seems to have taken over prong two (adaptive functioning), as reflected in new wording in both AAIDD‐11 and in a DSM‐5 draft. Concern about the need for a more responsible approach to testifying in Atkins cases has brought about efforts by myself and colleagues about how ID should and should not be evaluated in criminal proceedings (Greenspan, 2009d, 2011b).

Dr. Greenspan has been an extremely vocal and consistent critique of past and current definitions of intellectual disability. An abridged version of his complete speech was printed in the latest APA Division 33 newsletter (click here and go to page 4), with a note at the end indicating that those who want a copy of the entire speech should contact Dr. Greenspan.

Kudos to Dr. Greenspan for his continued efforts to improve the definition of MR/ID


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Do sexually aroused men score higher on IQ tests? A matter of life or death

Thanks to Kevin Foley (again) for sending me a new Atkins MR/ID death penalty decision--Pizzuto v Blades (2012, Idaho). I have not read the entire decision, but one interesting point has been brought to my attention.

Pizzuto's lawyers argued that his 1996 IQ score may have been inflated due to the testing being conducted by a very attractive female psychometrician. We all know that some test-specific variables can impact the reliability and precision of an IQ score, but there is no research suggesting that a man can score close to 14 points higher simply to impress an attractive examiner. Nice try defense...but a swing and a miss.

As stated on page 30 of the decision, Pizzuto may have been motivated to perform better than he otherwise would have "because Dr. Beaver’s ‘very attractive' female psychometrician administered the test . . . . Based on this, he claims that it would be appropriate to decrease the 1996 score by nearly a standard deviation, or 14 points, due to the presence of an attractive test administrator.” [pg 30].


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Atkins MR/ID death penalty court decisions: Update on Hines v Thaler (TX, 2011)

An update on Hines v Thaler (2011) which has had two prior decisions posted at the ICDP blog.



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WJ III cognitive test deficits--base rates of number of deficient tests

Kudos to Scott Decker, Joel Schneider and Brad Hale for the excellent article on how to estimate base rates for the number of deficient test scores (using various levels of standard score deficit criteria (e.g., SS <= 80; SS <=70) in the Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ III) Standard and Extended cognitive batteries (tests 1-14). Not surprisingly, they find that the number of relative weaknesses a person displays is most likely more than most clinicians would believe.

Of more practical significance is a series of smoothed figures they provide, by age, which would allow clinicians to determine the base rate significance of number of deviant WJ III cognitive tests (from primary 14 tests).

Conflict of interest disclosure - I am a coauthor of the WJ III

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How to estimate best IQ score if someone has taken multiple IQ tests: The psychometric magic of Dr. Joel Schneider

Dr. Joel Schneider has posted an excellent explanation on how to estimate a person's "true IQ score" when a person has taken multiple IQ tests at different times. Probably the most important take-away message is one should never calculated the simple arithmetic average. The median would be more appropriate, but Joel provides and even more psychometrically sound method and an Excel spreadhsheet for implementing his excellent logic and methods.



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Blogging lite: On a REAL vacation...Jimmy Buffet?

Not having had a real vacation in years (all others have been tied to conferences or professional trips), the blogmaster is taking a REAL cruise vacation, with my lovely Lady Di, utill Jan 22.

I will not be blogging, or may be blogging lite (push FYI posts) from wherever the ship is at. Jimmy Buffet...here I come




I shall return.





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Article: Do Brain Scans Sway Juries?

Do Brain Scans Sway Juries?
http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/01/do-brain-scans-sway-juries.html

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Kevin McGrew, PhD

Educational Psychologist

Research byte: The Flynn Effect in South Africa

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Sijtsma on the "Future of Psychometrics: Ask what psychometrics can do for psychology"

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Coalition for DSM-5 reform call for independent reviews and letters

The Coalition for DSM-5 has announced an open letter campaign to solicit independent reviews and feedback regarding DSM-5. - Posted using BlogPress from Kevin McGrew's iPad

Article: Could an iTunes-like model work with scientific publishing? : Discovering Biology in a Digital World

Could an iTunes-like model work with scientific publishing? : Discovering Biology in a Digital World
http://scienceblogs.com/digitalbio/2012/01/could_an_itunes-like_model_wor.php

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Educational Psychologist

Article: Appealability and Time Limits on Habeas

Appealability and Time Limits on Habeas
http://www.crimeandconsequences.com/crimblog/2012/01/appealability-and-time-limits-.html

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Educational Psychologist

Atkin's MR/ID Death Penalty Court Decision: Sanchez v PA (2010)

Sanchez v PA (2010) showed up in my inbox late last week. I have not read it but am adding it to the court decision blogroll. It was communicated to me that it is an important case for those in PA (since it sets the standard for resolving Atkins cases in that state) and because of the nice summary it provides regarding what other stats have done with Atkins cases. - Posted using BlogPress from Kevin McGrew's iPad

Technorati Tags: intelligence,intelligence testing,mental retardation,intellectual disability,Atkins MR,Atkins ID,Atkins cases,ICDP blog,psychology,school psychology,neuropsychology,forensic psychology,criminal psychology,criminal justice,death penalty,capital punishment,ABA,IQ tests,IQ scores,psychometrics,adaptive behavior,AAIDD,mental retardation,intellectual disability,Sanchez v PA (2010)

Criminal Law and Philosophy, Vol. 6, Issue 1 - New Issue Alert

Sunday, January 8 Dear Valued Customer, We are pleased to deliver your requested table of contents alert for Criminal Law and Philosophy. Volume 6 Number 1 is now available on SpringerLink Register for Springer's email services providing you with info on the latest books in your field. ... More! In this issue: Original Paper Criminalising Anti-Social Behaviour Andrew Cornford Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper What is Inhuman Treatment? Kevin J. Murtagh Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper A Human Right not to be Punished? Punishment as Derogation of Rights J. D. Shepherd Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper Criminalizing Health-Related Behaviors Dangerous to Others? Disease Transmission, Transmission-Facilitation, and the Importance of Trust Leslie Pickering Francis & John G. Francis Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper How to Argue About Prostitution Michelle Madden Dempsey Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper "Moore or Less" Causation and Responsibility Larry Alexander & Kimberly Kessler Ferzan Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Original Paper Review of "Crime and Culpability: A Theory of Criminal Law" David Dolinko Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Book Review Vera Bergelson: Victims' Rights and Victims' Wrongs Christopher Bennett Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF Book Review Susan Easton: Prisoners' Rights: Principles and Practice Richard L. Lippke Abstract    Full text HTML    Full text PDF

Article: Perlin on Pathological Altruism

Perlin on Pathological Altruism
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2012/01/perlin-on-pathological-altruism-.html

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Article: NEW RESOURCES: Most Recent DEATH ROW USA Report Now Available

NEW RESOURCES: Most Recent DEATH ROW USA Report Now Available
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resources-most-recent-death-row-usa-report-now-available-1

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Making my mom and dad proud: The blogmaster gets some press

Click on image to enlarge. Story at this link.


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Atkins MR/ID Death Penalty Court Decision: Watkins v NC (2011)

Another recent Atkins decisions was shared with me. I have not had time to read it. Posted without comments. Watkins v NC (2011) - Posted using BlogPress from Kevin McGrew's iPad

Technorati Tags: intelligence,intelligence testing,mental retardation,intellectual disability,Atkins MR,Atkins ID,Atkins cases,ICDP blog,psychology,school psychology,neuropsychology,forensic psychology,criminal psychology,criminal justice,death penalty,capital punishment,ABA,IQ tests,IQ scores,psychometrics,adaptive behavior,AAIDD,mental retardation,intellectual disability,Watkins v NC (2011)

Article: Top-Ten Recent SSRN Downloads

Top-Ten Recent SSRN Downloads
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2012/01/top-ten-recent-ssrn-downloads.html

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Atkins MR/ID death penalty court decision: Black v Bell (US; TN, 2011)

Thanks again to Kevin Foley for forwarding me a copy of Black v. Bell (2011).

Briefly, this case was remanded for further proceedings.  The case includes a variety of criticall Atkins issues such as the application of the SEM and the Flynn Effect, adaptive deficits vs. strengths and etiology of the condition.

Prior 2005 decision can be found here.

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Article: Introducing SpringerBriefs

Introducing SpringerBriefs
http://www.springer.com/authors/book+authors/springerbriefs?SGWID=0-1720013-0-0-0&changeHeader

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Article: Updates of leading malingering and Miranda rights tests

Updates of leading malingering and Miranda rights tests
http://forensicpsychologist.blogspot.com/2011/12/updates-of-leading-malingering-and.html

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Atkins MR/ID Death Penalty Court Decisions: Ortiz v US (2011) and Blue v Thaler (TX, 201)

Thanks to Kevin Foley for sending me two recent Atkins decisions.

The first is Ortiz v US (2011). A prior decisions regarding this case are here. I will not comment on this case as I provided an expert deposition and was also part of the amicus brief by Concerned Experts in Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disability.

The second is Blue v Thaler (TX, 2011), with a prior 2010 decision also being available. Of interest was the courts treatment (or lack thereof) of the Flynn Effect.

"The Court of Criminal Appeals refuses to apply the Flynn Effect in Atkins cases. Blue, 230 S.W.3d at 166 (“This Court has never specifically addressed the scientific validity of the Flynn Effect. Nor will we attempt to do so now. Rather than try to extrapolate an accurate IQ by applying an unexamined scientific concept to an incomplete test score, we will simply regard the record as it comes to us as devoid of any reliable IQ score.”). This comports with the federal jurisprudence stating that the Flynn Effect “has not been accepted in [the Fifth] Circuit as scientifically valid[.]” Mathis, 443 F.3d at 433 n.1 (citing In re Salazar, 443 F.3d 430, 433 n.1 (5th Cir. 2006)). The Court will not apply the Flynn Effect to lower the results of Blue’s IQ scores."

So what we have is a federal appeals court which won't address the Flynn Effect or even mention it by name - all based on a false assumption made in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - that the FE is an unexamined scientific concept.  I disagree with this assessment as considerable evidence has been presented regarding the scientific acceptance of the Flynn Effect by intelligence scholars.

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The most awesome quantoid XMAS gift ever - for the geeks (me)

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Book nook: Review of Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence

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USA TODAY: 'Speeding train' interrogations can fuel false confessions

Check out this article that I saw in USA TODAY's iPad application.

'Speeding train' interrogations can fuel false confessions
http://usat.ly/us6YLk

To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.

To learn more about USA TODAY for iPad and download, visit: http://usatoday.com/ipad/

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Educational Psychologist

IQs Corner Intelligent Insights e-paper now more comprehensive

IQs Corner e-paper is now greatly expanded in coverage.



Go to www.iqscorner.com to subscribe.





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Top-Ten Recent SSRN Downloads

Top-Ten Recent SSRN Downloads

CrimProf Blog

in criminal law and procedure ejournals are here. The usual disclaimers apply. Rank Downloads Paper Title 1 304 Racial Critiques of Mass Incarceration: Beyond the New Jim Crow James Forman, Yale University - Law School, Date posted to database: November...

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Research briefs 12-26-11

Murphy, P. (2011). The Psychiatrist as Expert Witness, 2nd edition, by T.G. Gutheil. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 21(5), 365-366.

Robst, J., Constantine, R., Andel, R., Boaz, T., & Howe, A. (2011). Factors related to criminal justice expenditure trajectories for adults with serious mental illness. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 21(5), 350-362.

Vinkers, D. J., DeBeurs, E., Barendregt, M., Rinne, T., & Hoek, H. W. (2011). The relationship between mental disorders and different types of crime. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 21(5), 307-320

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NeruroLaw@TheNeuroScience, 12/24/11 7:26 AM

Neuro Science (@TheNeuroScience) 12/24/11 7:26 AM NeuroLaw: Do we have a responsibility to use neuroscience to inform law? sns.mx/qvi8y4

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