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Asked by aglover to Sarah, Rebecca, Katie, Emily on 6 Feb 2018.
Question: What is the best test for working memory for young children? Is the Baddeley tripartite memory model still useful or is it redundant? Thank-you!
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Emily Farran answered on 6 Feb 2018:
In our lab we often measure working memory as a background measure to other tasks. With primary school age children we use the Corsi-block test to measure visuo-spatial working memory and a Digit span test to measure verbal working memory (often we use a backwards version of this task as it can be more sensitive to developmental differences). For both of these tasks the child is presented with a sequence which they have to repeat. The length of the sequence increases until children are unable to do the task anymore. So, with the Corsi-block task, the experimenter taps out a sequence across a number of blocks (up to nine blocks) for the child to repeat, and on the digit span task the experimenter verbalises a sequence of numbers which the child has to repeat (forwards or backwards, depending on the task). Yes, the Baddeley model is still useful, particularly with reference to the slave systems (verbal and visuo-spatial working memory).
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Rebecca Merkley answered on 8 Feb 2018:
I have also used the Corsi-block and Digit Span tasks in young primary school-aged children. However, I have found that children younger than 5 really struggle with these tasks, and particularly the Backwards Digit Span. A similar task to the Corsi-block test is the Dot Matrix test where children have to remember a series of locations of a dot in a 3 by 3 matrix.
Comments
modsu commented on :
This is a useful summary about working memory in the classroom, which includes some information about testing working memory.
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-21/edition-5/working-memory-classroom
ajfreebie1 commented on :
I assess pupils for exam arrangements and use the TOMAL2. You can test from 5 years upwards. The whole test is very comprehensive but you can use sections of it. You would be able to assess a range of memories including visual and verbal. It really depends what you are using them for. If they don’t need to provide standardised scores, you could make your own pack of assessments for verbal and visual memory, including working memory. If you are particularly concerned with attention and concentration, there is a very short section you can use. If you are looking to predict outcomes, use a standardised test. If you want to inform your own teaching, make your own up. I think all of the publishers will believe theirs is the best test. I like to TOMAL2 but you do need a qualified person to administer it.
aglover commented on :
Thank-you for these detailed answers – much appreciated!