Effects of demographic variables on the auditory verbal learning test performance İşitsel sözel öğrenme testi performansına demografik değişkenlerin etkisi
Yeni Symposium, cilt.54, sa.3, ss.2-9, 2016 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 54 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2016
- Doi Numarası: 10.5455/nys.20160711053323
- Dergi Adı: Yeni Symposium
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2-9
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Auditory verbal learning test, Interference effect, Normalization, Validity
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: The present study aimed to demonstrate the psychometric robustness of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) on Turkish samples. In the context of the test’s normalization, the study first aimed to show the effect of the demographic variables (age, education and sex) on learning, recall (free recall, recognition) and interference scores of AVLT. The second aim was to contribute to the validity studies on AVLT. In this respect, the relations between AVLT performance and fluid intelligence and the relations between age and interference scores were studied. Method: Sample consisted of a total of 48 healthy adult volunteers. There were 24 young adult (20- 25 years of age) and 24 elderly (60-70 years of age) participants in the sample. In each age group, participants were evenly distributed to levels of education and sex (5-8 years, 9-11 years, 12 years and above; male, female, respectively). Measurement tools were AVLT and Raven Standart Progresive Matrices (RSPM). Results: According to analysis of variance and analysis of covariance (common variable: fluid intelligence), AVLT scores were significantly affected by age. The effect of education and sex were not significant. Age had a significant effect on only retroactive interference. There were significant correlations (low to medium) between all AVLT scores and the RSPM score; and between all AVLT scores and retroactive interference score. Discussion: The findings on the effect of demographic variables on AVLT performance were consistent with the literature; this points to the validity of AVLT on Turkish samples. Literature findings about the effect of age on interference scores are inconsistent; however, both types of interferences are explained as deficits of working memory and both types are represented in overlapping brain areas. In the present study, AVLT performance was related to only retroactive interference score and age affect was obtained for only retroactive interference. The effect of age on interference should be investigated in controlled studies that use appropriately larger samples.