Table 2.

Examples of items and corresponding prompts from the Observed Tasks of Daily Living

Sample #1—Loading a Pill Reminder
Stimuli	The tester presents a fictitious person’s (named Peggy Wright) medication chart and the medicine bottles for all six medications listed on the chart to the participant. On the chart, the following three medications are marked with an X: Hygroton, 50 mg. Instructions: Take 1 tablet in the morning with food. Capoten, 50 mg. Instructions: Take 1 tablet 3 times a day. Lasix, 40 mg. Instructions: Take 1 tablet every other day from Monday through Friday in the morning. The tester presents a rectangular pill reminder case with four small compartments (morning, noon, evening, and bedtime) for each day of the week (Sunday through Saturday).
Instructions	The tester then presents a 4 × 6 in. (10.2 × 15.2 cm) index card with the following instructions: “Mrs. Wright uses this pill reminder so that she does not forget to take her pills. Please fill this reminder with the 3 drugs marked on the medication chart.”
Correct Steps	Hygroton all days morning Capoten all days morning, noon, and evening Lasix Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the morning
Prompt	“Please look at the medication bottles.” “Is there any information that can help you fill the pill reminder?”
Sample #2—Checking Itemized Calls on a Phone Bill
Stimuli	The tester presents a complete monthly phone bill (nine pages) to the participant. All pages are in numerical order and clearly labeled.
Instructions	The tester then presents a 4 × 6 in. (10.2 × 15.2 cm) index card with the following instruction: “According to this bill, on which days were the AT&T long-distance calls to Oregon made? Do not include any calling card calls.”
Correct Steps	Goes to page 6 of bill March 4 March 11 March 23 March 24
Prompt	“Can you see any information on this bill that tells you when and where calls were made?”
Sample #3—Balancing Checking Account
Stimuli	The tester presents a check ledger and pencil
Instructions	The tester presents an index card with the following instructions: “The person who holds this checking account received a check for $100.00 for deposit and also paid a utility bill for the amount of $48.42. Please balance the checkbook for this person.”
Correct Steps	Examine the check ledger. Write $100 in the Credit/Deposit column. Write $58.42 in the Debit/Withdrawal column. (The order of steps 2 and 3 can be reversed.) Add the deposit and subtract the withdrawal to come up with a final balance.
Prompt:	“Which amount is deposited?” “Which amount is paid out?”

Note: To protect test security, these are example items that are similar to, but not in the current version of, the OTDL.