Validating an Irish-Language Version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition

Abstract

Introduction:

This study translates and assesses the psychometric properties of an Irish-language version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition (Wilson et al 2003), a screening measure for memory impairment in adults.

Method:

All four versions of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition were translated to Irish and administered to a sample of 21 participants aged 21–64 years. Equivalent translation of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition was achieved through multiple translations and back-translations of the instrument and field-testing with both bilingual and monolingual participants.

Findings:

Strong evidence of concurrent validity was clear from the results. Test—retest reliability of the measure proved to be low in comparison with the English version. In general, the four parallel versions seem to be of equal difficulty, and the Irish version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition was no more difficult than the English version.

Conclusion:

The results support an Irish Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition as a valid test of everyday memory. Overall, the reliability of the tool is acceptable, but results must be considered cautiously due to the preliminary nature of the study and given the small sample size.