| Abstract: | This study examines the validity of intuitive classifications of experienced diagnosticians, that is, the empirical foundation of their intuitive prototypes. Intuitive prototypes of 10 experienced diagnosticians were collected in two tasks and were compared with the empirically based assessment system of T. M. Achenbach (T. M. Achenbach, K. C. Conners, H. C. Quay, F. C. Verhulst, & C. T. Howell, 1989). Results show that the intuitive prototypes correspond very poorly with the empirical core syndromes, instead consisting of different groups of symptoms from various core syndromes. The study also showed a low similarity between behaviors that clinicians judge as co- occurring with an incompletely specified syndrome and behaviors that empirically co-occur with that syndrome. Reasons for the difference between intuitive prototypes and empirically derived classification structures are discussed, as are consequences for diagnostic practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) |
