Word-Span Test: A Brief Overview
The Word-Span Test is a neuropsychological assessment used to measure working memory capacity. Working memory, or short-term memory, is the ability to hold information temporarily while performing mental operations with it. The test is used to examine the individual’s ability to remember and manipulate verbal information. It is also used to detect memory deficits in adults or children, as well as to assess the effects of drugs or diseases on working memory (Fukuda, Vogel, & Mayr, 2011). The Word-Span Test was first developed by Nelson and Fiorello (1960).
The Word-Span Test consists of several tasks. First, the examinee is asked to recall a list of words in the order they were presented. The words in the list are usually three to eight in length and are read aloud by the examiner. The examinee then has to recall the words in the same order they were read. After the examinee has recalled the words, they are given a distractor task such as counting backwards from a given number. Finally, the examinee is asked to recall the words again.
The results of the Word-Span Test are usually expressed as a score, which is calculated by subtracting the number of words recalled in the second trial from the number of words recalled in the first trial. Higher scores indicate better working memory capacity, while lower scores indicate poorer working memory capacity.
The Word-Span Test has been found to be reliable and valid (Fukuda et al., 2011; Nelson & Fiorello, 1960). It has been used in a variety of research studies and can be used to measure the effects of drugs or diseases on working memory as well as to assess brain damage or neurocognitive deficits.
In conclusion, the Word-Span Test is a reliable and valid measure of working memory capacity. It can be used to detect memory deficits in adults or children, as well as to assess the effects of drugs or diseases on working memory.
References
Fukuda, K., Vogel, E. K., & Mayr, U. (2011). Working memory capacity. Current Biology, 21(23), 904–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2011.09.053
Nelson, H. E., & Fiorello, C. A. (1960). An empirical evaluation of Wechsler’s adult intelligence scale. Psychological Monographs, 74(3), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0093493