A measure of short-term visual memory based on the WISC-R coding subtest.

Abstract

Adapted the Coding subtest of the WISC-R to provide a measure of visual memory. Three hundred and five children, aged 8 through 12, were administered the Coding test using standard directions. A few seconds after completion the key was taken away, and each was given a paper with only the digits and asked to write the appropriate matching symbol below each. This was termed "Coding Recall." To provide validity data, a subgroup of 50 Ss also was administered the Attention Span for Letters subtest from the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude (as a test of visual memory for sequences of letters) and a Bender Gestalt recall test (as a measure of visual memory for geometric forms). Coding Recall means and standard deviations are reported separately by sex and age level. Implications for clinicans are discussed. Reservations about clinical use of the data are given in view of the possible lack of representativeness of the sample used and the limited reliability and validity of Coding Recall.