CUP Faculty Research

Title

Memory Testing and Memory for Sentences: Concurrent and Construct Validity of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) Utilizing the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1995

Abstract

The validity of memory testing as measured by the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) by Bigler and Reynolds (1994), a new instrument designed to evaluate the memory functioning of children and adolescents, was compared to the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). Specifically, the Memory for Sentences (MFS) subtest of the TOMAL was under review. Subjects (n = 205) were undergraduate psychology students at Brigham Young University and were between 17 and 19 years of age. After providing informed consent, subjects completed a battery of neuropsychological memory tests including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, the Warrington Recognition Memory Test, the Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure and Design and the Benton Visual Retention Test as well as the WMS-R and TOMAL in a counter-balanced design. Those subjects completing the research project received extra class credit. In the present study, several significant relationships were found. Of particular importance is the high correlation between the logical memory subtest of the WMS-R and MFS on the TOMAL (r = .5056; p < .001). As these tests purport to measure the same memory process this supports the validity of the TOMAL MFS. In addition, there is data to support the internal consistency of the TOMAL as the MFS correlates highly with its Verbal Memory Index (.6068; p < .001). Furthermore, the MFS appears to correlate very highly with other WMS scales and indices such as the Verbal Memory Index (.4845; p < .001), General Memory Index (.4707; p < .001), and Delayed Recall Index (r = .3198; p = .003). Construct validity for MFS was also established as it had no significant correlation with the WMS Visual Memory Index (r = .0358) or the TOMAL Nonverbal Memory Index (r =. 1873).

Comments

Publication Information.

Mueller, R. M., Russo, A. A., Barker, L. H., Lajiness-O'Neil, R., Johnson, S., Anderson, C., Norman, M. A., Sephton, S., Primus, E., Bigler, E. D., & Reynolds, C. R. (1995). Memory testing and memory for sentences: Concurrent and construct validity of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) utilizing the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 10(4), 369-370. doi:10.1016/0887-6177(95)92996-I

Source

CU Commons -- Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Faculty Research

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