Normative data and construct validity of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test in a Brazilian elderly population.

Abstract

The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is an episodic memory test that is influenced by demographic variables, such as age, education, and gender. Classic word list learning has also been well documented to be an experimental cognitive paradigm that is very useful for the detection of Alzheimer's disease. The present study analyzed the performance of healthy elderly subjects on the RAVLT, describing the effects of age, education, and gender. To verify its construct validity, the RAVLT was compared with delayed recall and recognition scores on the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (DR-BCSB). The sample comprised 183 cognitively healthy elderly subjects from outpatient care units of two university reference centers in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. All participants were subjected to physical and neurological evaluation and neuropsychological assessment. Pearson's correlation and Student's t-test were used to investigate the influence of demographic variables on RAVLT performance. To verify convergent-type construct validity, a correlation between RAVLT and DR-BCSB scores was calculated. Significant correlations were found between age and ∑A1-A5 (r = -.383, p < .01), A5-A1 (r = -.054, p < .01), A7 (r = -.361, p < .01), and REC A (r = -.288, p < .01). Educational level correlated with ∑A1-A5 (r = .405, p < .01), A5-A1 (r = .184, p < .01), A7 (r = .334, p < .01), and REC A (r = .329, p < .01). No correlation was found between gender and RAVLT performance. A significant correlation was also found between RAVLT and DR-BCSB performance (r = .5, p < .01). These results revealed some normative data and convergent-type construct validity of the RAVLT for a Brazilian elderly population.

Fidedignidade e validade de construto do Teste de Aprendizagem Auditivo-Verbal de Rey em idosos brasileiros

“…Unlike previous studies 9, 11 , there has not been found significant influence of formal education on test scores. This fact can be explained by the homogeneity of the participants assessed in terms of formal education, and the unequal distribution of subjects at 4 and 8 years of education, which is a limitation of this study.…”

“…However, the present results cannot be generalized to the entire elderly population, being required further studies about the influence of factors such as education and depressive symptoms in more heterogeneous samples in order to increase the external validity of these findings. In this regard, we emphasize that the growing volume of studies to obtain normative parameters and applicability of neuropsychological tests for different segments of the Brazilian population 7,8,11,14,19 must be accompanied by studies on the psychometric properties of these instruments. This initiative will support the refinement of the use of these instruments for both clinical practice and research.…”

“…In favor of this, there is a multi-methodological convergence of such evidence, the homogeneity of the sample (based on a series of objective criteria for inclusion) and adequate sample size for analysis. Therefore, with the first analysis of the construct validity of the test 11 , it provides convergent evidence of reliability and construct validity. However, the present results cannot be generalized to the entire elderly population, being required further studies about the influence of factors such as education and depressive symptoms in more heterogeneous samples in order to increase the external validity of these findings.…”

“…In Fichman et al 11 study, moderate correlation of the stages of recall represents approximately 27% of the variance (r²), while the recognition task represents only 4%. Thus, respectively 73% and 96% of common variance between the two instruments are explained by other factors rather than the latent construct to be validated.…”

“…Fichman et al 11 conducted the first study of the RAVLT's construct validity in the elderly population in the Brazilian context. Using convergent correlations (cognitive test instruments with positive correlations tend to measure, at some level, similar constructs) and a learning picture test that is independent from formal education, the authors correlated the components "A7", "REC", "Total" and an index compound by the total number of words mentioned in A5 minus the total of words evoked in A1 (in which the total of words memorized is considered, being short-term memory pondered).…”