Delayed recall on the Wechsler memory scale-revised: The factor structure revisited

Abstract

Although delayed recall tasks are prominent features of the popular Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised (WMS‐R), exploratory factor analyses consistently have failed to identify an associated delayed recall factor. The present study tested the hypothesis (Elwood, 1991b) that a delayed recall factor could be found by substituting percent retained (saving) scores for the existing WMS‐R delayed recall subtest scores. Principal component analyses of age‐corrected WMS‐R immediate and save scores in a mixed clinical sample failed to find the hypothesized save factor. Both the scree and MAP tests retained one general memory factor, which accounted for 42.2% of the total variance. Independent statistical programs produced essentially equivalent results. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Dimensions of Cognitive Ability in Dementia: Differential Sensitivity to Degree of Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease

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Dimensions of Cognitive Ability in Dementia: Differential Sensitivity to Degree of Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease

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Correlation between different memory systems and striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor density: a single photon emission computed tomography study

“…For both the verbal and visual delayed recall trials, one task measures the retention of paired associates learned earlier in the examination, while the other assesses the retention of more meaningful and integrated material. The four delayed recall subtests contribute to a separate delayed recall composite, intended to measure how much of the material learned has been retained over a half-hour period (Elwood, 1991(Elwood, , 1993Wong & Gilpin, 1993). Directions of timecontextual information for trials of delayed recall composite were given to participants, as described in the WMS-R manual.…”

Material-specific memory in traumatic brain injury: Differential effects during acquisition, recall, and retention.

“…Studies of material-specific memory are derived primarily from investigations of patients with epilepsy and other lateralized brain damage and from factor analytic studies of the performance of normal and various patient populations on memory measures. The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G.…”

“…The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G. E. Smith, Malec, & Ivnik, 1992).…”

Dimensions of Cognitive Ability in Dementia: Differential Sensitivity to Degree of Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease

“……”

Correlation between different memory systems and striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor density: a single photon emission computed tomography study

“…For both the verbal and visual delayed recall trials, one task measures the retention of paired associates learned earlier in the examination, while the other assesses the retention of more meaningful and integrated material. The four delayed recall subtests contribute to a separate delayed recall composite, intended to measure how much of the material learned has been retained over a half-hour period (Elwood, 1991(Elwood, , 1993Wong & Gilpin, 1993). Directions of timecontextual information for trials of delayed recall composite were given to participants, as described in the WMS-R manual.…”

Material-specific memory in traumatic brain injury: Differential effects during acquisition, recall, and retention.

“…Studies of material-specific memory are derived primarily from investigations of patients with epilepsy and other lateralized brain damage and from factor analytic studies of the performance of normal and various patient populations on memory measures. The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G.…”

“…The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G. E. Smith, Malec, & Ivnik, 1992).…”

Dimensions of Cognitive Ability in Dementia: Differential Sensitivity to Degree of Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease

“……”

Correlation between different memory systems and striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor density: a single photon emission computed tomography study

“…For both the verbal and visual delayed recall trials, one task measures the retention of paired associates learned earlier in the examination, while the other assesses the retention of more meaningful and integrated material. The four delayed recall subtests contribute to a separate delayed recall composite, intended to measure how much of the material learned has been retained over a half-hour period (Elwood, 1991(Elwood, , 1993Wong & Gilpin, 1993). Directions of timecontextual information for trials of delayed recall composite were given to participants, as described in the WMS-R manual.…”

Material-specific memory in traumatic brain injury: Differential effects during acquisition, recall, and retention.

“…Studies of material-specific memory are derived primarily from investigations of patients with epilepsy and other lateralized brain damage and from factor analytic studies of the performance of normal and various patient populations on memory measures. The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G.…”

“…The majority of factor analytic studies have used the WMS (Wechsler & Stone, 1945) or the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R; Wechsler, 1987) and have produced generally inconsistent structural solutions (Bornstein & Chelune, 1988; Elwood, 1991a, 1993; Roid, Prifitera, & Ledbetter, 1988; Roth, Conboy, Reeder, & Boll, 1990; Wechsler, 1987). Many of the studies did not find separate factors for material-specific memory processes (Elwood, 1991a, 1991b, 1993; Larrabee, Kane, & Schuck, 1983; Larrabee et al, 1985; G. E. Smith, Malec, & Ivnik, 1992).…”