Alloway Working Memory Assessment 2

Introduction and updates Alison Winter

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Agenda

1. Over view of working memory

2. AWMA (2007)

3. Revision goals for AWMA 2

4. Test structure

5. Introduction to AWMA 2

6. Q&A

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Working Memory

Working memory refers to a brain system that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive tasks as language comprehension, learning and reasoning.(Baddeley, 1992)

Associated with reading (Gathercole & Pickering, 2000) and mathematic (Geary et al., 2004) ability

10-15% of all students have working memory deficits (Alloway et al., 2009)

Children with poor working memory make poor academic progress Of 300 children with poor working memory (Gathercole & Alloway, 2008):• 83% scored poorly on either reading or maths tests

the vast majority of these scored poorly in both areas

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•Age range 4-22

•Locally installed (Maximum of 2 computers)

•Load on the examiners working memory.

•Individual administration.

Automated Working Memory Assessment (2007)

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Revision goals for AWMA 2

•Increase the age range

•Increase user-friendliness

•Enhance clinical utility

•Improve psychometric properties.

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Increase Age Range

- Norms increased to 79 yrs

Increase user-friendliness- Fully automated.

- Number of items per block (6 to 4)

-Design on test materials

-Completely web-based (greater flexibility)

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Enhanced clinical utility

Special group studies

- Intellectually gifted- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)- Mathematics Disorder (Dyscalculia)- Reading Disorder (Dyslexia)- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- Borderline Intellectual Functioning.

- Statistical linkage to measure of attainment.

Improved psychometric properties

- Norms- Item bias

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AWMA 2 - StructureTests included in AWMA 2

Verbal STM

Digit Recall

Letter Recall

Verbal WM

Backwards Digit Recall

Processing Letter Recall

Visuo Spatial STM

Dot Matrix

Block Recall

Visuo Spatial WM

Mr X

Backwards Dot Matrix

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Test Content New, Retained and Deleted

Retained test Deleted Tests New tests

•Digit recall•Backward digit recall•Dot matrix•Block recall•Mr X

•Word recall•Non-word recall•Listening recall

•Letter recall - Verbal STM

•Processing Letter Recall - Verbal WM

•Backward dot matrix - Visuo-

spatial WM

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Overview AWMA 2

- Author - Tracy Packiam Alloway

- Publication Year: 2012

- Age Range: 5 to 79 years

- AdministrationIndividual - Screener: 5 to 7 mins; Short form: 10 to 15 mins; Long form: 30 mins

- Qualification Code: CL3

Cost: £175.00 p/a

- Author - Tracy Packiam Alloway

- Publication Year: 2013

- Age Range: 5 to 79 years

- Administration (Individual and group)

- Screener: 5 to 7 mins

- Short form: 10 to 15 mins

- Long form: 30 mins

- Qualification Code: CL3

Cost: £175.00 p/a

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AWMA 2 - Structure

There are three versions of AWMA-2:

• AWMA-2 Screener: two working memory tests, suitable for screening WM difficulties.• AWMA-2 Short Form: four tests; recommended to screen individuals who are suspected to have memory difficulties, but the specific area of their difficulties is not known• AWMA-2 Long Form: all eight tests; recommended for confirmation of significant working memory problems

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Q&A

Thankyou