Thomas J. Farrer - Essentials of the California Verbal Learning Test

CVLT3 : The standardization sample for the CVLT3 consisted of 700 individuals selected to form a representative sample of the U.S. population, based on 2015 U.S. Census data. It was stratified based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, and geographic region. Seven normative age bands were created: 16–19, 20–29, 30–44, 45–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–90. Each age band included 100 individuals. Sex was evenly represented for ages 16–59 and in proportion to the U.S. Census in ages 60–90.

Internal consistency was evaluated using alternate form reliability. The Alternate Form sample consisted of 213 nonclinical adults administered the Standard and Alternate Forms of the CVLT3 between 10 and 51 days apart. The administrations were counterbalanced, with 107 receiving the Standard Form first followed by the Alternate Form and 106 receiving the Alternate Form first followed by the Standard Form. Correlation coefficients are reported in the CVLT3 Manual for all normed scores for two age groups: 16–44 and 45–90. Alternate form correlations for the 18 core and index scores are listed in Rapid Reference 1.9. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.83 for the index scores, from 0.50 to 0.71 for the recall scaled scores, from 0.49 to 0.67 for the recognition scaled scores, and from 0.15 to 0.66 for the error and process scaled scores.

Standardization data from the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition Adult Version (CVLT-II) . Copyright © 2000 NCS Pearson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Standardization data from the California Verbal Learning Test, Third Edition (CVLT3) . Copyright © 2017 NCS Pearson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Effect sizes ranged from −0.09 to 0.06 across the index scores, from −0.11 to 0.11 across the recall scaled scores, from −0.15 to 0.06 across the recognition scaled scores, and from −0.18 to 0.29 across the error and process scaled scores, indicating small changes in performance across forms. Therefore, it is unlikely that performance will vary across the two forms greatly due to experience with the test. It is important to note that when the same form is administered, memory tests show practice effects (i.e., performance improvement related to prior experience with taking a test) for a long time after administration, with patients recalling information for months to years after administration (Goldberg, Harvey, Wesnes, Snyder, & Schneider, 2015).

Memory and learning measures are particularly susceptible to practice effects. Practice effects can be observed for more than 6 months.

The most detailed and comprehensive information for each edition of the CVLT can be found in the corresponding test manual: CVLT-C Manual, CVLT-II Manual, and CVLT3 Manual . Each manual provides an overview of the test, descriptions of each condition and score, and detailed information on administration and scoring, calculating the raw scores, and deriving normative scores. Information on the theoretical underpinnings, development and standardization, reliability, validity, and interpretation are also provided. In addition, the CVLT3 manual provides an overview of the use of demographic adjustments to the CVLT3 norms.

Editions of the CVLT have been used in multiple research studies incorporated into thousands of published articles. The CVLT-C has been used to assess memory functioning in typically developing children, children with acquired disorders, such as brain tumors and injuries, and children with neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. The CVLT-II has been used to examine memory functioning in typically developing and aging adults, individuals with degenerative diseases, such as mild cognitive impairment and dementia, individuals with acquired injuries, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury, individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, and other populations with suspected or known memory disorders. It is expected that more research on the CVLT3 will become available as the revision is more widely used. Rapid Reference 1.10provides basic reference and publication information for the CVLT-C, CVLT-II, and CVLT3.

Authors: Dean C. Delis, Joel H. Kramer, Edith Kaplan, and Beth A. Ober

Publication Date: 1994

What test measures: Verbal and Auditory Learning and Memory

Age Range: 5–16

Administration Time: 30 min administration plus a 20-min delay

Qualification of Examiners: Graduate- or professional-level training in psychological assessment

Publisher: NCS Pearson, Inc.

5601 Green Valley Drive

Bloomington, MN 55437

Order Phone Number: 1-800-627-7271

www.PearsonClinical.com

Price: Complete Kit: (as of March 2019) $235.75 (paper kit); 107.00 (scoring software)