ItemArticle

Remote and Cross-Cultural Training of Research Assistants Abroad to Conduct Neuropsychological Tests: Lessons Learned

Title
Remote and Cross-Cultural Training of Research Assistants Abroad to Conduct Neuropsychological Tests: Lessons Learned
Creator
Stimmel, Marnina B; Adhikari, Dristi; Ayers, Emmeline; Jacob, Soumya; Verghese, Joe; Weiss, Erica F
Description
There are no published guidelines regarding remotely training research assistants (RAs) to conduct neuropsychological tests. With technological advances allowing for increased international collaboration within the medical and research communities, challenges often arise from such partnerships, including linguistic, cultural, and physical barriers. A notable challenge for supervising neuropsychologists in international projects is the physical distance from RAs, sites, and materials, making training/supervision of RAs and monitoring test data quite challenging. In the context of a research collaboration between neuropsychologists based in New York and RAs based in Kerala, India, as part of the Kerala-Einstein Study, we explore the obstacles of remotely training RAs and maintaining neuropsychological data integrity. We share lessons learned and systems developed to optimize remote, multilingual, cross-cultural training of RAs in administration/scoring of neuropsychological tests. One-on-one video training sessions mitigated logistical problems (i.e., time differences, internet connection, language comfort). Individualized training in scoring and a centralized individual to double-score protocols addressed quality assurance of test data. Close collaboration between our teams was necessary for cultural competency, particularly when building an appropriate test battery, creating and translating manuals, and adapting protocols. Finally, frequent and ongoing communication channels ensured excellence in study design, information gathering, and data quality. Future studies should continue highlighting strategies for remotely training psychometrics/RAs in neuropsychological administration. 2025 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Source
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology;Volume;40;Issue;5;pp.1030-1035
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Subject
Cognitive assessment; International collaboration; Neuropsychology; Older adults; Remote training
Coverage
Stimmel M.B., Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Adhikari D., Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Ayers E., Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Jacob S., Christ University, Bangalore, India; Verghese J., Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Weiss E.F., Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
Rights
All Open Access; Green Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 8876177; CODEN: ACNEE
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Stimmel, Marnina B; Adhikari, Dristi; Ayers, Emmeline; Jacob, Soumya; Verghese, Joe; Weiss, Erica F, “Remote and Cross-Cultural Training of Research Assistants Abroad to Conduct Neuropsychological Tests: Lessons Learned,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22813.

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