Effects of serial position on Bender-Gestalt errors using Koppitz's criteria

The validity of the Koppitz Developmental scoring system in identifying org anic impairment among functionally impaired adolescents was challenged in t he current study. It was proposed that there are two distinct subtypes of e rrors in this system: those that are valid indicators of organic impairment (Category A) and those which are not but occur as a function of specific e motional factors (Category B). 46 male adolescents with a primary diagnosis of Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Attention-Deficit H yperactivity Disorder were administered the Bender-Gestalt once using the s tandard order of administration and once in reverse order. It was hypothesi zed that more errors would be committed on cards presented later than those presented earlier in sequence for Category B bur not Category A errors. An alysis provided partial support for this hypothesis.