An Empirical Comparison of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised and the Memory Assessment Scales in Measuring Four Memory Constructs

Abstract

Thirty participants were administered both the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) and the Memory Assessment Scales (MAS). Participants' standard (index) scores from each battery were compared across the same four memory constructs: Verbal Memory; Visual Memory; General/Global Memory; and WMS-R Attention and concentration and MAS Short-term Memory. The MAS yielded significantly lower mean standard scores across all four memory constructs. The largest difference between mean standard scores was found on Visual Memory in which the MAS mean was over one standard deviation lower than the WMS-R mean. Correlations between the MAS and the WMS-R mean standard scores were not significant on the Visual Memory and the General/Global Memory construct. Although the WMS-R and the MAS purport to measure the same memory constructs, these results suggest that they are measuring different abilities and are not comparable tests.

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