Use of a modified scoring of the Wathand Cabinet Test And Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire to measure hand preference in young adults

Abstract

Handedness can be assessed using preference, performance and observational measures. Handedness is multidimensional and thus the measurement tools should reflect this. The calculation of total scores when using handedness measures gives a picture of overall hand use however it does not give any indication of hand use within the various elements of the measure, such as differences between skilled and unskilled tasks. To further investigate the relationship of scores between and within measurement tools we modified the scoring of the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (WHQ) and the WatHand Cabinet Test (WHCT)(Bryden, Roy & Spence, 2007) to include total, skilled, unskilled, and bimanual scores. Young adults completed the WHQ, grooved pegboard (GP) and WHCT. Analysis showed that the total, skilled and bimanual scores between the WHQ and WHCT were positively correlated. No significant correlations were found between the WHQ and WHCT unskilled scores, suggesting that there were differences between the performance and self-report of unskilled tasks. Based on laterality quotients, participants over-reported the frequency they use their preferred hand. The GP skilled score positively correlated with the WHQ and WHCT skilled scores however the GP unskilled score did not correlate with the WHQ or WHCT unskilled scores. These findings support the view that handedness is multidimensional. The modified scoring of the WHQ and WHCT allows for a greater depth and understanding of handedness.

Acknowledgments: Research support from NSERC (PJB) and FOSSA (AC)