The aim of this research was to devise and norm a test of
verbal memory suitable for use with children aged 5-10 years.
Subjects were 204 Canberra school children. They were
divided into six age groups, 5-10 years inclusive. Each age group of 34
children contained equal numbers of males and females.
The main memory test involved free recall of a word-list over
several learning trials and two delayed recall trials. This format allowed
the assessment of a range of memory functions including immediate
memory, learning and delayed recall following an interference trial. These
aspects of memory are of known diagnostic significance and are necessary
for satisfying the basic requirements of a comprehensive assessment of
memory functioning. In addition, given that this is a study of verbal
memory, precautions were taken to maximize the likelihood that words
included in the word-list would be encoded solely within the verbal
modality.
Results showed that tests of immediate memory and learning
differentiated between age groups. There were no developmental
differences in retention as measured by recall decrement following
interference. Also, there was no convincing evidence of sex differences for
any of these three measures, with the possible exception of the ten year
old group.
For practical and clinical purposes, the distribution of scores
for each age group on each of these measures is described. In addition,
expected scores of individual children of a given age measured in monthly
increments and confidence intervals for these scores were presented for
measures of immediate memory and learning.
Measures of intelligence for this sample of children were
also recorded.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218961 |
| Date | January 1986 |
| Creators | Gordon, Sue, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Sue Gordon |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds