Evaluación de la respuesta aguda al broncodilatador en pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos / Evaluation of the acute response to the bronchodilator in overweight and obese asthmatic patients

Introducción: La obesidad está asociada al uso frecuente de medicación de rescate y padecer asma de mayor gravedad. Los obesos asmáticos tienen menor reactividad bronquial, sin embargo, existe información limitada sobre la magnitud de la reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador (RAB). Objetivo: Evaluar la magnitud de respuesta aguda al broncodilatador en pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 49 pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos atendidos en consulta externa del Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico (enero 2017˗ enero 2018) y se constató mediante espirometría la respuesta aguda al broncodilatador. Resultados: Predominó la edad (40-59 años), mayor asociación de padecer asma, poca mejoría con la aplicación del broncodilatador. El sexo femenino (20-59 años) presentó mayor número que el masculino y menor reversibilidad al broncodilatador. Los pacientes con antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o atopia representaron 73,5 por ciento del total. El 76,5 por ciento de los obesos no presentó mejoría con la aplicación del broncodilatador. Predominó la categoría de gravedad persistente moderada. Conclusiones: El sexo femenino tiene más riesgo de padecer asma y no tener mejoría al aplicar el broncodilatador. Los obesos mayores de 40 años tienen mayor riesgo de no presentar reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador. Los antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o atopia y personales de otras enfermedades no predisponen a menor reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador. La gravedad del asma no influye en la reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador(AU)

Introduction: Obesity is associated with the frequent use of rescue medication and suffering from more severe asthma. Obese asthmatics have less bronchial reactivity, however, there is limited information on the magnitude of acute bronchodilator reversibility. Objective: To assess the magnitude of the acute response to the bronchodilator in overweight and obese asthmatic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 49 overweight and obese asthmatic patients seen in the outpatient clinic at Benéfico Jurídico Pneumologic Hospital from January 2017 to January 2018, and the acute response to bronchodilator was verified by spirometry. Results: Age predominated (40-59 years), greater association of suffering from asthma, and little improvement with the use of bronchodilator. The female sex (20-59 years) showed greater number than the male and less reversibility to bronchodilator. Patients with family pathological history of asthma or atopy represented 73.5 percent of the total. 76.5 percent of the obese did not show improvement with the use of bronchodilator. The category of moderate persistent severity predominated. Conclusions: The female sex has greater risk of suffering from asthma and has no improvement when applying bronchodilator. Obese individuals over 40 years of age have higher risk of not having acute reversibility to the bronchodilator. Family pathological history of asthma or atopy and personal history of other diseases do not predispose to less acute reversibility of bronchodilator. The severity of asthma does not influence acute reversibility to bronchodilator(AU)

Estimación de la magnitud del efecto en invarianza de medición / Estimation of effect size in measurement invariance / Avaliação do tamanho do efeito na invariância de medida

Este trabajo presenta un programa en MS Excel® para evaluar la magnitud del efecto (ES, por las siglas en inglés) en invarianza de medición de diferentes parámetros como las cargas factoriales, interceptos/thresholds y residuales, con base en estadísticos estandarizados ya conocidos. El funcionamiento del programa y la interpretación de las medidas de ES se ejemplificaron con datos empíricos.

This paper presents a MS Excel® program for estimating effect size (ES) in the measurement invariance of different item parameters, such as the factor loadings, intercepts/thresholds and residuals, based in well-known standardized statistics. Examples with real data are provided for the functioning of the program and the interpretation of the ES measures.

Este artigo apresenta um programa no MS Excel® para avaliar o tamanho do efeito (ES, pela sigla em inglês) na invariância de medida de diferentes parâmetros dos itens, como cargas fatoriais, interceptos/thresholds e resíduos, com base em estatísticas padronizadas bem conhecidas. O funcionamento do programa e interpretação das medidas de ES é exemplificado com dados empíricos.

Valor de la Recompensa: ¿Cómo y Para Qué se Usa el Concepto? / Value of the Reward: How Is the Concept Used and for What? / Valor de Recompensa: como e para que se usa o Conceito?

El escrito ofrece un panorama general sobre el valor de la recompensa, respondiendo los interrogantes: ¿qué es?, ¿cómo se ha conceptualizado? y ¿qué investigaciones han utilizado el concepto? En sentido general, este se utiliza para calificar una recompensa como más o menos efectiva: mientras mayor sea el valor, mayor es su eficacia. Primero se describe la medición histórica del valor y cómo lo define la literatura sobre economía conductual. A continuación aparecen dos usos diferentes del concepto: (a) como constructo hipotético y (b) como variable interviniente. También se incluyen definiciones operacionales, en las que no se definen exhaustivamente las variables asociadas, entonces no se le considera variable interviniente, pero tampoco se agrega significado, más allá del nivel de observación, por lo que no son ejemplo de constructo hipotético. Posteriormente se explora la relación entre demora del reforzador y descuento temporal. Las consideraciones finales retoman la discusión sobre su valor heurístico en la investigación contemporánea.

The article offers a general panorama on the value of the reward, answering the questions: What is it? How has it been conceptualized? What investigations have used the concept? In general, a reward is rated as more or less effective: the greater the value, the greater its efficiency. First, the article discusses the historical measurement of value and how the literature on behavioral economics defines it. Next, two different uses of the concept are presented: (a) as a hypothetical construct and (b) as intervening variable. The text includes operational definitions where the associated variables are not defined exhaustively and therefore not considered as intervening variable, but which also add no meaning beyond the level of observation and therefore are not an example of a hypothetical construct. The article then explores the relationship between delay of the reinforcing agent and temporal discount. Finally, the article considers the discussion about the concept's heuristic value in contemporary research.

Este texto oferece um panorama geral sobre o valor da recompensa ao responder aos questionamentos: o que é, como vem sendo conceituado e quais pesquisas têm utilizado o conceito? Em sentido geral, este se utiliza para qualificar uma recompensa como mais ou menos efetiva: quanto maior for o valor, maior será sua eficácia. Primeiramente, descreve-se a medição histórica do valor e como a literatura sobre economia comportamental o define. A seguir, aparecem dois usos diferentes do conceito: (a) como construto hipotético e (b) como variável interventora. Também são incluídas definições operacionais, nas quais não se definem exaustivamente as variáveis associadas, portanto não é considerada variável interventora nem se agrega significado mais além do nível de observação, razão pela qual não são exemplos de construto hipotético. Posteriormente, explora-se a relação entre demora do reforçador e desconto temporal. As considerações finais retomam a discussão sobre seu valor heurístico na pesquisa contemporânea.

¿El método modula la relación entre descuentos temporal, probabilístico y social? / Do methods modulate the relation among delay, probability and social discounting?

Resumen Los descuentos temporal, probabilístico y social se refieren a la disminución del valor de una recompensa en función de su demora de entrega, probabilidad o distancia social, respectivamente. Una pregunta en el área es si los 3 tipos de descuento comparten un mismo proceso. Por otra parte, se ha sugerido que el método empleado modula las tasas de descuento. Por lo tanto, el propósito del presente estudio fue averiguar si el método empleado contribuye a la correlación entre los 3 tipos de descuento. Cuarenta y cuatro participantes respondieron tareas de descuento temporal, probabilístico y social con 2 métodos diferentes, elección binaria y ajuste de la magnitud. Se encontró que, con el método elección binaria, el descuento social correlacionó con los descuentos temporal y probabilístico, pero los últimos 2 no correlacionaron entre sí. Con el método ajuste de la magnitud, solo se encontró una correlación entre los descuentos temporal y probabilístico. Estos resultados sugieren que el método empleado contribuye a la búsqueda de un proceso común entre los 3 tipos de descuento. Incluso, un proceso común de toma decisiones subyacente a los 3 tipos de descuento podría depender del contexto en que se toma la decisión.

Abstract Delay, probability and social discounting refer to the decrease in the subjective value of a reward as a function of its delay of delivery, probability or social distance, respectively. One question in the area is whether the three types of discounting share the same process or whether they are held by different processes. This question has been investigated by looking at the correlations between the three types of discounting. Moreover, it has been suggested that the method used to obtain the indifference points could modulate the discounting rates. However, the search of a common process underlying the three types of discounting should not be influenced by the method used to obtain the indifference points. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the method used to obtain the indifference points contributes to the correlation between the three types of discounting. Forty-four college students responded tasks of delay, probability and social discounting —which used a hypothetical monetary reward— with two different methods: Binary choice and adjusting amount. We found significant correlations between binary-choice and adjusting-amount methods for the three types of discounting. Albeit, a significantly higher delay discounting rate was found with the adjusting-amount method rather than with the binary-choice method, but there were no significant differences between the probability and social discounting rates obtained with both methods. In addition to the previous results, with the binary-choice method it was found that social discounting correlated with delay and probability discounting, but the last two did not correlate between them. In contrast, with the adjusting-amount method, it was only found a correlation between delay and probability discounting. The latter result suggests that the method used to obtain the indifference points contributes to the search of a common process between the three types of discounting. Actually a common decision-making process underlying the three types of discounting could depend on the context in which the choice is made.

Using psychophysical tools to quantify body image perception: a tutorial / Usando ferramentas psicofísicas para quantificar a percepção da imagem corporal: um tutorial / Utilizando herramientas psico-física para cuantificar la percepción de imagen corporal: un tutorial

This article presents a tutorial about two protocols that can be used to measure an individual's perception of body image, direct and indirect , and which follow S.S. ( Stevens 1951) methods. Two psychophysical task approaches illustrate the ability of individuals to quantify body image distortions. We selected psychophysical tasks that indirectly assess a participant's behavioral component of body image (i.e., satisfaction tendencies about body image); and second, the cognitive component of body image (i.e., individuals' perceptual accuracy in magnitude estimation tasks, which depend on a familiarity with interval scales and the use of numbers and ratios to represent physical dimensions of stimuli). We determined individuals' perceptual sensitivity (i.e., his or her perceptual style ) to manipulations of the body's size by using Stevens' power function ( Stevens, 1951).

Este artigo apresenta um tutorial sobre dois protocolos que podem ser usados para medir a percepção de imagem corporal, direta e indiretamente , com base nos métodos de S.S. ( Stevens 1951). Duas abordagens psicofísicas ilustram a capacidade dos indivíduos para quantificar as distorções da imagem corporal. Nós selecionamos tarefas psicofísicas que avaliam indiretamente o componente comportamental da imagem corporal do participante (ou seja, tendências de satisfação sobre imagem corporal); e segundo, o componente cognitivo da imagem corporal (ou seja, precisão perceptual nas tarefas de estimativa de magnitude, que dependem de uma familiaridade com escalas de intervalo, e com o uso de números e proporções para representar dimensões físicas dos estímulos). Determinamos a sensibilidade perceptual dos indivíduos (ou seja, seu estilo perceptual) em tarefas de manipulação do tamanho do corpo, usando a função de potência de S.S. Stevens ( Stevens, 1951).

Este artículo presenta un tutorial en dos protocolos que pueden utilizarse para medir la percepción de imagen corporal, directa e indirectamente , con base en métodos de S.S. ( Stevens 1951). Dos enfoques físicos ilustran la capacidad de los individuos para cuantificar las distorsiones de la imagen corporal. Hemos seleccionado las tareas psico-físicas que evalúan indirectamente el componente conductual de la imagen corporal del participante (es decir, tendencias de satisfacción sobre imagen corporal); y en segundo lugar, el componente cognitivo de la imagen corporal (es decir, precisión perceptiva en las tareas de estimación de magnitud que dependen de una familiaridad con las escalas de intervalo, y con el uso de los números y proporciones para representar dimensiones físicas de los estímulos). Determinar la sensibilidad perceptual de los individuos (es decir, su estilo perceptual ) en tareas de manipulación del tamaño corporal, usando la función de potencia de S.S. Stevens ( Stevens, 1951).

Influencia de la forma de presentación de los resultados de estudios clínicos en la toma de decisiones de los estudiantes de Medicina / The Effects of Presenting Clinical Trials Results in Different Formats to Medical Students

Introducción Varios estudios demostraron que la presentación de los beneficios terapéuticos en forma de riesgos relativos en lugar de riesgos absolutos o número necesario a tratar produciría una impresión más favorable de dichos beneficios. Objetivos Conocer a través de una evaluación cognitiva el grado de influencia que podría ejercer la forma de presentación de los riesgos y los beneficios clínicos de métodos diagnósticos o tratamientos en la toma de decisiones de estudiantes de Medicina. Material y métodos Se estudiaron 65 alumnos que cursaban la materia Bioestadística, a los que se les presentaron los resultados resumidos de distintos ensayos clínicos, de forma de mostrar los datos como reducción del riesgo relativa (RRR), reducción del riesgo absoluta (RRA) y/o número necesario a tratar (NNT), con o sin gráficos asociados. Resultados Los alumnos mostraron un desempeño similar al comparar los beneficios terapéuticos, tanto cuando la presentación se realizó con riesgos relativos como con riesgos absolutos (RRR: 57,7% vs. RRA: 51,5%; p = 0,319); sin embargo, el desempeño fue peor cuando los datos se expresaron como NNT (RRR: 57,7% vs. NNT: 31,3%; p = 0,000002). Por su parte, la inclusión de gráficos con escala modificada fue interpretada por los alumnos como una diferencia real en los datos (RRR: 98,5% vs. RRA: 43,1%; p < 0,000001). Conclusiones Este estudio demostró los riesgos relacionados con la mala interpretación de los resultados estadísticos, así como la necesidad de insistir en el entrenamiento de los alumnos en este tipo de análisis cuantitativo, a fin de mejorar el proceso de toma de decisiones médicas.

Introduction Previous studies have demonstrated that presenting treatment benefits in terms of relative risk reduction rather than in terms of absolute risk reduction or number of needed to treat patients, should favor the sense of outcome effectiveness. Purposes The purpose of this study was to perform a cognitive evaluation to assess how the form of presenting the risks and benefits of screening methods and treatments affects medical students' decision-making. Methods Sixty-five medical students attending a Biostatistics course answered a questionnaire reporting the results of clinical trials expressed as relative risk reduction (RRR), absolute risk reduction (ARR) and/or number needed to treat (NNT), with or without associated graphs. Results Students' performance was similar when comparing treatment benefits, both in relative and absolute risks presentations (RRR: 57.7% vs. ARR: 51.5%, p=0.319); however, performance was worse when information was expressed as NNT (RRR: 57.7% vs. NNT: 31.3%, p=0.000002). Inclusion of modified-scale graphs was misinterpreted as a real data difference (RRR: 98.5% vs. ARR: 43.1%, p<0.000001). Conclusions This study demonstrated the risks related to misinterpretation of statistical results, and the need to improve the students' training in this type of quantitative analysis, in order to improve the medical decision-making process.

Cambios en magnitud y tendencias de la desnutrición crónica en el Perú, análisis del periodo 1996 a 2011 / Changes in magnitude and trends in chronic malnutrition in Peru, analysis of the period 1996-2011

Objetivo: Analizar los cambios de la desnutrición crónica (DC) en magnitud y tendencias según  rea de residencia, dominio geográfico, edad, género, quintiles de riqueza, nivel educativo de la madre y departamentos en el período 1996 a 2011, usando las nuevas referencias de crecimiento OMS 2006. Métodos: Análisis secundario de las bases de datos de las encuestas nacionales de demografia y salud familiar (ENDES) correspondientes a los años 1996, 2000, 2005 y 2007 a 2011. Se estimó la prevalencia de DC entre los menores de 5 años y se analizo según características sociodemográficas. Los departamentos se agruparon según la prevalencia de DC: Muy alta ( 40 por ciento), alta (30-39 por ciento), media (20-29 por ciento) y baja (<20 por ciento). Se realizaron pruebas de hipótesis de diferencias de proporciones entre los años 1996 y 2011 a nivel nacional y por departamento considerando el diseño muestral. Tambén se realizó un análisis ecológico con la variable dependiente prevalencia de DC y como independiente los años del periodo 1996 a 2011, mediante correlación simple y regresión. Resultados: La DC en el Perú se ha reducido de 31.6 por ciento a 19.5 por ciento y muestra una tendencia decreciente. Ocurrió mayor reducción en el área urbana comparado con el rural (51 por ciento vs 23 por ciento), aunque se observa tendencia decreciente en ambas. En cuanto a la edad se encontró una reducción de 48 por ciento en niños de 3 años, mientras que en <1 año se redujo en 7 por ciento (1 pp en los 15 años), todas las categorías de edad mostraron tendencia decreciente de la DC, menos en <1 año. Según dominios geográficos la DC se redujo á s en resto de Costa (57 por ciento), seguido por Lima Metropolitana (49 por ciento), Sierra (31 por ciento) y Selva (29 por ciento). Por otro lado la DC disminuyó en todos los quintiles de riqueza, pero los cambios no fueron homogéneos, así en el quintil superior se redujo en 71 por ciento, en tanto en el quintil inferior la reducción fue de 17 por ciento...

Objective: To analyze the changes in the magnitude and trend of chronic malnutrition (CM) by area of residence, geographic domain, age, gender, wealth index quintile, mother's educational level and departments in the period 1996-2011, using the new WHO 2006 growth references. Methods: Secondary analysis of the databases of the National Demographic and Family Health (DHS) for the years 1996, 2000, 2005 and 2007-2011. We estimated the prevalence of CM in children under 5 years and this was analyzed according to sociodemographic characteristics. Departments were grouped according to the prevalence of CM: Very high ( 40 percent), high (30-39 percent), medium (20-29 percent) and low (< 20 percent). We compared the prevalence of CM between 1996 and 2011 at the national level and by department by differences in proportions, considering the sample design. We also performed an ecological analysis considering as dependent variable the prevalence of CM, and as independent variables the years of the period 1996-2011, using simple correlation and regression. Results: CM in Peru has decreased from 31.6 percent to 19.5 percent and shows a decreasing trend. Greatest reduction occurred in urban areas compared to rural (51 percent vs 23 percent), although there was a downward trend in both. In terms of age, there was a reduction of 48 percent in children 3 years old and only 7 percent in children under one year (1 pp in 15 years), all age categories showed a decreasing trend, except those under one year. According geographic domains, the CM was reduced the most in rest of Coast (57 percent), followed by Lima Metropolitana (49 percent), Highlands (31 percent) and Amazon forest (29 percent). CM decreased in all wealth index quintiles, but the changes were not homogeneous, in the top quintile the reduction was 71 percent while in the bottom quintile was 17 percent...

Discriminación ee sabores en procedimientos de ambios sorpresivos del reforzaddor durante la temprana ontogenia de a rata / Tastediscriminattion during the earlyontogeny of the rat in procedurres involving surprising changes in reinforcement

Este estudio evaluó la respuesta consumatoria de ratas infantes ante diferentes magnitudes de soluciones azucaradas y luego de su devaluación o extinción, con el objetivo de detectar la preferencia de las soluciones y la existencia de efectos de contraste y de magnitud del reforzamiento en la extinción. En el Experimento 1 se expuso ratas de 8-10 días postnatales (DPN) a diferentes concentraciones de sacarosa (12%, 10%, 5% ó 2%; fase de precambio) a las que se las devaluó al 2% (fase de postcambio). En el Experimento 2, dos grupos de 10-14 DPN recibieron soluciones al 12% ó 2% en la fase de precambio y 2% en la de postcambio. En ambos experimentos se observó que, durante la primera fase, el grupo 12% exhibió un mayor porcentaje de ganancia de peso que los demás grupos, pero no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en la fase de post-cambio. En el Experimento 3 se evaluó el efecto de magnitud del refuerzo en la extinción en ratas de 7-12 DPN, utilizando agua en la segunda fase. Se halló un efecto de magnitud del refuerzo en la adquisición, sin embargo, no hubo diferencias entre grupos en la segunda fase. En el Experimento 4 se utilizó un procedimiento de contraste anticipatorio (CA) con ratas de 10-16 DPN. Los animales exhibieron nuevamente un efecto de magnitud del refuerzo pero no se observó CA. Estos resultados indican que: (a) al menos desde los 8 DPN las ratas discriminan diferentes concentraciones de sacarosa y que prefieren la del 12%, y que (b) hasta la segunda semana de vida los animales consumen los reforzadores en función de su valores absolutos. Los resultados se discuten en términos de la ontogenia del aprendizaje de los efectos paradójicos del reforzamiento y su vinculación con la teoría de Amsel.

This study evaluated consummatory responses in infant rats exposed to different magnitude of reward, and after the devaluation (i.e., consummatory successive negative contrast) or omission (i.e., extinction) of reward. In Experiment 1, 8-10 post-natal days (PND) pups were intraorally infused with 12%, 10%, 5% or 2% sucrose (preshift phase, 2 daily trials). Subsequently, all groups received 2% sucrose (postshift phase). In Experiment 2, 10-14 day-old pups received 12% or 2% sucrose in 4 daily trials in the preshift phase, followed by 2% in a postshift trial. Both experiments indicated that during preshift, animals exposed to 12% sucrose exhibited higher sucrose consumption than those receiving lower concentration solutions. This phenomenon, indicative of a magnitude of reinforcement effect was not accompanied by evidence of successive negative contrast. In Experiment 3 we evaluated the magnitude of reinforcement extinction effect in 7-12 PND rats. Animals received 12% sucrose or water in preshift phase and both groups received a neutral solution (i.e., water) in the second phase. A magnitude of reinforcement acquisition effect was again observed, yet there were no differences between groups in extinction phase. In Experiment 4 we used an anticipatory contrast procedure in 10-16 PND pups. A magnitude of reinforcement, but not an anticipatory contrast effect was observed. Overall the results indicate that: (a) rats from - at least- 8 PND discriminate between different concentrations of sucrose, and (b) until the second week of life the response to rewards is mainly regulated by their absolute value and not by their relative value. Results are discussed terms of the ontogeny of paradoxical effects of reward and its relationship to Amsel's theory.

Estudio preliminar del impacto socioeconómico sobre los puntajes de una batería multidimensional de aptitudes en niños preescolares / A preliminary study on the socioeconomic impact on the scores of a set of multidimensional aptitude tests in pre-school children

El presente estudio explora las relaciones entre nivel socioeconómico, género y tipo de centro educativo preescolar y el desempeño cognitivo de niños preescolares (N = 323) de Lima (Perú), con una prueba multidimensional de aptitudes. Con la aplicación de la técnica multivariada de análisis de perfiles se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas y de moderada magnitud del efecto en los puntajes cognitivos, debidas a la ubicación del centro educativo; no se detectaron diferencias que se atribuyan al género y al tipo de centro. Se trabajó en base a tres hipótesis: La primera es la hipótesis de igualdad de niveles, en la que se examinan las diferencias que en promedio existen entre los dos grupos. La segunda es la hipótesis de igualdad de la dispersión, que examina si las variables de respuesta (puntajes en las subescalas) tienen la misma respuesta en promedio. Y la tercera, la hipótesis de paralelismo, que prueba si el patrón de elevaciones en el perfil es similar entre los dos grupos. Los resultados fueron evaluados con respecto a la consistencia interna y a la definición del nivel socioeconómico (ubicación geográfica). Se discuten las diferencias halladas en el aspecto socioeconómico y relacionándolas con la bibliografía sobre el tema y la utilidad de la batería multidimensional de aptitudes para niños preescolares. Es importante destacar que el estudio reporta información normativa acerca del desempeño de los niños preescolares, en lo que respecta al género y ubicación de los centros educativos y su carácter correlacional y la magnitud del efecto de los resultados.

The present study explores the relationship between socioeconomic level, gender and type of pre-school education center, and cognitive development in 323 pre-schoolers in Lima (Perú), using a multidimensional aptitude test. By applying the multivariate technique, we found statistical significant differences and medium size effects on the cognitive scores due to the educational center location, whereas gender and type of educational center differences were not found. The results were considered taking into account reliability levels and also according to the definition of socioeconomic levels. The differences found are discussed based on other articles as well as on the usefulness of the multidimensional aptitude tests for pre-schoolers. The sample consisted of 323 children of 5 years old, 167 boys and 156 girls, who go to both private and public pre-schools in a district of Lima. The proportion of public pre-school students (67.2%) was double the amount of private pre-school students (32.8%). Moreover, the private pre-schools had been recently formed (4 to 5 years before) and had children from families with a medium or medium to low socioeconomic level. In order to assess general and relevant aspects of pre-school learning, we applied a pre-school diagnostic test (De la Cruz, 1991), which can be used at a pre-school level (4-5 year-olds). This test contains the following areas: Verbal concepts, Quantitative concepts and Auditive memory, Visual perceptual aptitude and Visual-motor coordination. It is a potentia test because the time varies from one student to another so as to allow every child to answer every item. Furthermore, it is also a maximum performance test because the student tries to obtain the best possible score. We contacted several educational centers (private and public) from three different districts in Lima which accepted to participate in this study. The time of application of the test varied considering: individual skills, the number of children in the collective application, the presence of a teacher's aide for the collective application, and the attitude and motivation of the students. We used MANOVA to analyze profiles, a post hoc univariate contrast, and effect size estimations such as Cohen's d. Our study was based on three hypotheses: The first hypothesis was on the equality of levels (variability between subjects) that explores the differences that exist between both groups separately. As a result, we found no correlation between test performance and gender or school location. However, when considering type of school (public or private), we did find significant differences in one scale: Auditive memory, which was higher in public schools. The second hypothesis was the equality of dispersion (within-group differences), to identify if the answer variables have the same answers on average. We found similarities regarding school conditions (public or private); but there were small differences between gender and school location. The third hypothesis was regarding parallelism, which tests whether the pattern of elevations on the profile is similar between the two groups or not. We did not find important statistical dispersions and the effect size was small. The results coincide with other studies on the correlation between gender and socioeconomic level, and cognitive development. Among some of the limitations of our study, we list the following: for example, we used the school location to determine the children's socioeconomic level. Therefore, there were also extreme scores (outliers), which could vary the central tendency estimations and the dispersion. However, they were not trimmed, since in a previous unreported analysis without these data, researchers found only minimum changes. We also had occasional difficulties in applying the tests, due to the children's disposition to participate as well as their reaction concerning the test situation, which could have added random error on the results. However, we presume their negative reactivity was reduced because of the playful manner in which the tests were presented. The results of our research shed normative information regarding the performance of preschoolers due to gender and location of their educational centers. It is important to emphasize correlations as well as effect size of the results so as not to reach erroneous conclusions.