Effects of a Supervisor's Observation on Memory Test Performance of the Examinee

Studies showing impairing third party observation effects on neuropsychological testing led to the National Academy of Neuro-psychology's policy statement recommending that third party observers, other than supervisors for training purposes, should be excluded during neuropsychological test sessions. The current study was designed to determine if the presence of the examiner's supervisor during testing had similar impairing effects on memory performance as did other forms of third party observers. This study examined the effects of supervisory observation on the Memory Assessment Scales performance of 45 undergraduates. The results showed that the Global and Verbal Memory summary scores were significantly lower in the observed group than the unobserved group. The presence of an evaluator's supervisor negatively impacted an examinee's memory test performance, even when the examinee was informed that the presence of the supervisor was to observe the examiner's administration of the test and not the examinee's performance.