Visual Retention Test: Local Norms and Impact of Short-Term Memory

Abstract

Issues related to assessment of organic impairment and to normative data underscore the importance of securing reliable criteria directly applicable to the population under question. This study explored the applicability of the Visual Retention Test norms to a local, nonorganically impaired population of young people and made a preliminary empirical evaluation of the time-delay format. The 23 males and 18 females ranging from 8 to 17 yr. and seen at a midwestern child guidance center responded to two administrations (A and D) of the Visual Retention Test embedded in a complete psychological test battery. The proposition that present-day local subjects would not differ from the normative group either by the number correct or number of errors ( t = 1.02, p > .20; t = .83, p > .40, respectively), as well as the prediction that the time-delay format would effect a significant performance decrement with both scoring systems ( t = 2.63, p < .01; t = 4.40, p < .001, respectively) were clearly supported.