Suitability of published neuropsychological test norms for urban African secondary school students in South Africa

Variations in neuropsychological test performance as a function of ethnic/c ultural group membership, socioeconomic and educational status are widely d ocumented. In South Africa, issues of cultural difference, sociopolitical d isadvantage, cognitive and educational limitations, are of particular relev ance. Accordingly, this study investigated the performance on a neuropsycho logical test battery of urban African high school students. A group of 100 Soweto students in Grades 8-12. and a second group of 152 sixth grade Sowet o students aged 13-15 years? scored significantly lower on most of the meas ures than their American counterparts, as reflected in published norms. Res ults also demonstrated a significant difference in test performance as a fu nction of educational grade. The findings confirmed the need for using norm s and approaches which are appropriate to a given population when interpret ing and addressing neuropsychological test performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.