A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III in an Elderly Norwegian Sample.
This study compared the factor structure of the translated Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III), which is the latest available version in Norway, with the original U.S. version. A sample of 122 healthy, elderly Norwegians (mean age: 74; standard deviation = 8.8) completed the WMS-III. The factor structure of the translated WMS-III was tested, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, with comparison of model fit based on five a priori hypothesized models. Several model fit indices pointed to a three-factor model (working memory, visual memory, and auditory memory) providing the best fit to the data. Our study supports updated findings of the original WMS-III in nonclinical samples and suggests that the translated version is structurally equal to the original. The study supports the cross-cultural validity of the WMS-III. However, based on the present data, one might expect scores on the Family Pictures subtest to fall below scores on other WMS-III subtests in elderly Norwegians.
Department of Psychiatry, Namsos Hospital, Namsos, Norway ole.bosnes@hnt.no.
Ole
O
Bosnes
Norwegian Centre for Diving Medicine, Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Kari
K
Troland
Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Torbjoern
T
Torsheim
D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014177:Translations; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Assessment; Cross-cultural; Learning and Memory