Visual Degradation in Boston Naming Test Performance

Abstract

The 60 pictures of the Boston Naming Test were degraded via a mask to be either “easy,” “medium,” or “hard” to process visually. The visual mask was created by cutting a 2-in. x 2-in. square from a security mailing envelope and progressively reducing the size 25% on a copy machine. Three groups of 50 undergraduates each were randomly assigned to one of these three degradation conditions, and the number of correct identifications made was measured. We expected that as degradation increased (from easy to medium to hard), Boston Naming Test performance would decrease. A one-way analysis of variance indicated that group scores differed. With “easy” degradation more pictures were identified in comparison with performance in the “hard” degradation condition, but no other differences were significant. Results were discussed from the perspective of how unknown situational variables may affect performance on psychological tests.