A Novel Metrological Approach to a More Consistent Way of Defining and Analyzing Memory Task Difficulty in Word Learning List Tests with Repeated Trials
2022 (English)In: Proceedings - 4th RaPID Workshop: Resources and Processing of Linguistic, Para-Linguistic and Extra-Linguistic Data from People with Various Forms of Cognitive/Psychiatric/Developmental Impairments, as part of the 13th Edition of the Language Resources and Evaluation Conference, LREC 2022, European Language Resources Association (ELRA) , 2022, p. 17-21Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
New candidate diagnostics for cognitive decline and dementia have recently been proposed based on effects such as primacy and recency in word learning memory list tests. The diagnostic value is, however, currently limited by the multiple ways in which raw scores, and in particular these serial position effects (SPE), have been defined and analyzed to date. In this work, we build on previous analyses taking a metrological approach to the 10-item word learning list. We show i) how the variation in task difficulty reduces successively for trials 2 and 3, ii) how SPE change with repeated trials as predicted with our entropy-based theory, and iii) how possibilities to separate cohort members according to cognitive health status are limited. These findings mainly depend on the test design itself: A test with only 10 words, where SPE do not dominate over trials, requires more challenging words to increase the variation in task difficulty, and in turn to challenge the test persons. The work is novel and also contributes to the endeavour to develop for more consistent ways of defining and analyzing memory task difficulty, and in turn opens up for more practical and accurate measurement in clinical practice, research and trials.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
European Language Resources Association (ELRA) , 2022. p. 17-21
Keywords [en]
Cognition, Entropy, Item response theory, Metrology, Word recall, Clinical research, Cognitive decline, Diagnostic value, L.i.s.t tests, Learning memory, Position effect, Task difficulty, Word learning
National Category
Natural Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-62604Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85145874182ISBN: 9791095546771 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-62604DiVA, id: diva2:1730326
Conference
4th RaPID Workshop: Resources and Processing of Linguistic, Para-Linguistic and Extra-Linguistic Data from People with Various Forms of Cognitive/Psychiatric/Developmental Impairments, RAPID 2022, 25 June 2022
Note
Funding details: Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020; Funding details: European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research, EMPIR; Funding text 1: This project 18HLT09 NeuroMET2 has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
2023-01-242023-01-242023-05-25Bibliographically approved