Abstract

Objectives: In order to prepare, modify and standardize the Revised Wechsler Memory Scale, a pilot study was carried out in the city of Shiraz, after which the Farsi version of the Scale was produced. This study led to assessment of reliability as well as validity, generation of the sub-scales, and formulation of a set of standardized normative scores for the Scale.

Method: 205 normal subjects aged 16 to 64 years and 11 mouths were classified into four age groups and tested by the Scale.

Findings: The data collected through the performance of the subjects was converted into five composite scores, standard scores, and five composite indices for each age group. Moreover, the percentile ranks corresponding to the five composite scores were calculated for each age group. The reliability of the scale was measured through a test-retest method. The reliability coefficients of the retests ranged from 0.28 to 0.98 for the subtests and the composite tests, which is satisfactory. The standard error of measurement was calculated as well. The most reliable index was Attention/Concentration after that came Verbal Memory. To investigate validity of the new version of Scale, it was administered to a clinical group who were either diagnosed with or suspected of memory impairment. In comparison with the normative sample in terms of five indices, the clinical group scored lower in the scale indices.