CIQ Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can the CIQ be used with populations other than persons with TBI?
2. Is there a simpler way of scoring the JSV variable (job/school/volunteering)?
3. Are there norms for the CIQ?
4. Is it OK to administer the CIQ retroactively?
5. Can people with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury reliably report on their own community integration?

1. Can the CIQ be used with populations other than persons with TBI?
In principle, yes. At least one study (Corrigan and Deming, 1995) has done so. Researchers considering use with another disability group need to consider whether in question 10 the term "head injuries" needs to be replaced, e.g. with "persons with a disability". Also, reliability and validity data should be collected and analyzed before concluding that the CIQ is a valid measure with another group.

2. Is there a simpler way of scoring the JSV variable (job/school/volunteering)?
No. The scoring algorithm was designed to balance various combinations of activities, without giving too much credit for the few persons who do all three. Manual scoring is not easy, but a computer program to do the scoring is fairly easy to write.

3. Are there norms for the CIQ?
No. The TBI model systems may be able develop some as soon as sufficient numbers of completed CIQs for people of various ages, injury severities, etc. are available.

4. Is it OK to administer the CIQ retroactively?
Again, it has been done (see Corrigan and Deming, 1995; Schmidt et al., 1995). The researcher should be concerned with faulty memory, and rose-colored glasses. In addition, if the goal is to provide a base-line for comparing post-TBI integration levels with, it should be realized that with the elapse of time, this basis of comparison becomes less relevant. One cannot validly compare pre-injury status of a 16-year old with what the person is 20 years later.

5. Can people with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury reliably report on their own community integration?
No research has been done to determine what degree of cognitive deficit would exclude a person with TBI as a reliable reporter of her/his own level of community integration. In the TBI model systems evaluation research, former inpatient rehabilitation patients are routinely interviewed with regard to their social and community activities.