Development, psychometric properties, and pilot norms of the first Arabic indigenous memory test: The Verbal Memory Arabic Test (VMAT)

Abstract

Background: Tests of verbal memory (list learning) are particularly useful for clinicians and researchers globally, yet there are no psychometrically robust tests that are built indigenously for Arabic-speaking populations, which comprise more than 370 million. Objective: To develop a verbal memory Arabic test using a systematic procedure of item selection and then provide evidence of validity and reliability in an Arabic-speaking sample in Lebanon. Method: In study 1, we conducted a word prototypicality study (n = 77), and identified 932 words across 7 semantic categories. Following quantitative analyzes and qualitative judgments by an expert panel, we selected a sufficient number of words and categories, and constructed and piloted the items, instructions, and protocol for the Verbal Memory Arabic Test (VMAT). In study 2, we administered the VMAT on a community sample (n = 199; screened for depression and cognitive impairment) and patients with Multiple Sclerosis (n = 16). Results: Scores decreased with age as expected, they discriminated well between healthy and clinical populations (matched on age, sex, and years of education), and showed acceptable consistency within items and across time. Conclusions: The VMAT is the first Arabic test developed indigenously. It can be used in clinical and research settings with Arabic-speaking populations to assess verbal learning. © 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.