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Inattentive responding can induce spurious associations between task behaviour and symptom measures

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Listed:
  • Samuel Zorowitz

    (Princeton University)

  • Johanne Solis

    (Rutgers University)

  • Yael Niv

    (Princeton University
    Princeton University)

  • Daniel Bennett

    (Monash University)

Abstract

Although online samples have many advantages for psychiatric research, some potential pitfalls of this approach are not widely understood. Here we detail circumstances in which spurious correlations may arise between task behaviour and symptom scores. The problem arises because many psychiatric symptom surveys have asymmetric score distributions in the general population, meaning that careless responders on these surveys will show apparently elevated symptom levels. If these participants are similarly careless in their task performance, this may result in a spurious association between symptom scores and task behaviour. We demonstrate this pattern of results in two samples of participants recruited online (total N = 779) who performed one of two common cognitive tasks. False-positive rates for these spurious correlations increase with sample size, contrary to common assumptions. Excluding participants flagged for careless responding on surveys abolished the spurious correlations, but exclusion based on task performance alone was less effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Zorowitz & Johanne Solis & Yael Niv & Daniel Bennett, 2023. "Inattentive responding can induce spurious associations between task behaviour and symptom measures," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(10), pages 1667-1681, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:10:d:10.1038_s41562-023-01640-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01640-7
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