An investigation of the measurement properties of the Spot-the-Word test in a community sample.
Intellectual ability is assessed with the Spot-the-Word (STW) test (A. Baddeley, H. Emslie, & I. Nimmo Smith, 1993) by asking respondents to identify a word in a word-nonword item pair. Results in moderate-sized samples suggest this ability is resistant to decline due to dementia. The authors used a 3-parameter item response theory model to investigate the measurement properties of the STW in a large community-dwelling sample (n=2,480) 60 to 64 years of age. A number of poorly performing items were identified. Substantial guessing was present; however, the number of words correctly identified was found to be an accurate index of ability. Performance was moderately related to a number of tests of cognitive performance and was effectively unrelated to visual acuity and to physical or mental health status. The STW is a promising test of ability that, in the future, may be refined by the deletion or replacement of poorly functioning items.
Mackinnon
Andrew
A
Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australia. Andrew.Mackinnon@anu.edu.au
Christensen
Helen
H
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007807:Language Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012111:Residence Characteristics