The Prediction of Future Outcomes Among OASI Referrals Using NMZ Scores

Using samples from Iowa OASI sub-populations, the relationships between NMZ scores and the criteria of acceptance for services by the Iowa DVR as well as future rehabilitation of clients were examined. The results suggest that (a) the relationship of NMZ scores to the acceptance criterion is low; (b) the relationship of NMZ scores to the more ultimate criterion of client rehabilitation is moderate, and, here, empirical weights appear to work better than the intuitive weights assigned in the original development of NMZ scores; (c) through empirical weighting, the variable of age was revealed as most important in predicting such criteria.