Abstract

The term formal applies to any completely objective method for making psychometric or logical interpretive decisions. These methods have the scientific characteristics of objectivity, repeatability, validity, and predictability. Formal methods provide information that is quantitative or logical. In neuropsychology, they provide an objective, quantitatively accurate description of a relationship between aspects of brain functioning. This chapter is devoted to a relatively brief examination of the formal methods used in neuropsychology. Formal methods are mathematical or logical. They are quantitative or taxonomic. They are derived directly from scientific, psychometric methods that do not require clinical judgment. These include computerized testing, which appears to be a major aspect of the next phase of neuropsychological assessment. Their essence is objective validation. The advantage of formal methods is that they can be validated and their accuracy determined (rate of error). Therefore, they are reliable for medical and forensic purposes. Their ultimate form is computerized assessment that combines administration, scoring, and interpretation. Ultimately, neuropsychology will develop in this direction.

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