Loss‐of‐set and strategy application on the Menu Task: An exploratory study.

Performance‐based tests of functional cognition (FC) use simulated instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performed under rule constraint to evaluate ability to perform actual IADL. Because the test characteristics and the test‐takers daily activities are similar, the test‐takers need to avoid becoming “derailed” by habits or personal preferences that are not relevant to the test, a phenomenon referred to as loss of set (Burgess, 2005; Schneider, 1984). The Menu Task, a sensitive FC screening test, was designed to provoke loss of set by having the format of a food selection activity, in which test‐takers own food preferences may disrupt actual task requirements. However, there has until now been no examination of whether test‐takers approach and strategies to maintain set are associated with cognitive abilities and FC abilities.