HARMONIZING COGNITIVE SCORES ACROSS WAVES IN THE CHINA HEALTH AND RETIREMENT LONGITUDINAL STUDY
2024

Harmonizing Cognitive Scores in a Longitudinal Study

publication

Author Information

Author(s): Wu Yingyan, Mayeda Elizabeth Rose, Kobayashi Lindsay, Gross Alden, Zhang Yuan

Hypothesis

Can weighted equipercentile equating address the challenges of cognitive test score comparability across different waves of the CHARLS?

Conclusion

Equipercentile equating can generate comparable cognitive scores for longitudinal analysis despite changes in test administration procedures.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study used a word recall test to assess memory function across five waves from 2011 to 2020.
  • Mean delayed word recall scores increased in 2018 and 2020 compared to 2015.
  • Equipercentile equating allowed for the comparison of scores across different test administrations.

Takeaway

This study found a way to make memory test scores from different years comparable, so researchers can better understand how memory changes over time.

Methodology

Weighted equipercentile equating was used to adjust cognitive scores across different study waves.

Participant Demographics

The calibration sample was balanced for age, gender, and education.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2080

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