Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a short version of the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire (MIA) in Brazilian Portuguese. The original MIA is an instrument in english composed by 108 items, divided into seven dimensions of metamemory (Strategy, Task, Capacity, Change, Anxiety, Achievement and Locus). Despite of being widely used, the extension of the instrument makes its application impractical in many contexts, reinforcing the need for a short version. A total of 472 participants answered the original full version of the MIA. First, Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses revealed that nine items of the instrument could be excluded due to poor infit and outfit values. After exploratory factor analyses, the 99 items left were judged by five experts that chose the most appropriate items following previously established criteria (factor loading, repetitiveness, bad writing, and temporal/cultural inadequacy). A 39-items version (MIAr) was obtained, with the same factorial structure of the original MIA. The MIAr demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency indexes, as well as evidences of convergent validity and validity based on the response process. The results revealed that the MIAr achieved good psychometric properties, serving as a more parsimonious and practical option for metamemory assessment.

Abstract We investigated differences in IQ and visual-constructive skills in school-age children evaluated as developmentally delayed or typically developed in early childhood. Sixty-four participants from a Brazilian cohort were evaluated in IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence) and tasks of visual-spatial memory and visual-constructive skills through the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) at school age. Neuropsychomotor development at 4 years of age was measured by Denver II. Developmentally delayed children showed lower IQs, lower scores, and more errors in copy and memory BVRT tasks when compared to typically developed children. Delay in neuropsychomotor development in early childhood may affect the subsequent cognitive development of children.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram: verificar a existência de avanços em habilidades de consciência fonológica e escrita em uma criança com síndrome de Down, falante do português brasileiro, em um intervalo de tempo de quatro anos e oito meses; identificar quais habilidades de consciência fonológica desenvolveram-se e quais continuaram sendo de difícil resolução; verificar o desempenho do participante em testes de memória de trabalho fonológica e de inteligência verbal e de execução. A criança frequenta escola regular e tinha 7 anos de idade cronológica no início do estudo. A consciência fonológica e a escrita foram avaliadas em três momentos (T1, T2, T3) em um período de 4 anos e 8 meses. Para a avaliação da consciência fonológica foi utilizado o teste Consciência fonológica: instrumento de avaliação sequencial (CONFIAS). No T1 e T2, a escrita foi avaliada de acordo com critérios do mesmo instrumento; no T3, foi utilizado o subteste de escrita do Instrumento de Avaliação Neuropsicológica Breve Infantil (NEUPSILIN-INF). No T1, a memória de trabalho fonológica foi avaliada por meio do span de palavras e, no T3, foi utilizado o subteste de pseudopalavras do NEUPSILIN-INF. Para avaliação da inteligência verbal e de execução (T3), utilizou-se a Escala de Inteligência Wechsler Abreviada (WASI). Foram verificados progressos em habilidades de escrita e consciência fonológica ao longo do estudo. Algumas habilidades de consciência silábica aprimoraram-se, já tarefas que exigem manipulação de constituintes fonêmicos e consciência de rima continuaram de difícil acesso. O participante apresentou um bom desempenho no teste de repetição de palavras reais. O span de palavras reais foi superior ao span de pseudopalavras. O quociente de inteligência geral foi considerado limítrofe. Acredita-se que, neste caso, habilidades linguísticas e cognitivas, como o vocabulário verbal, a memória de trabalho fonológica e a capacidade intelectual, influenciaram o desempenho no teste de consciência fonológica e capacitaram a criança para o aprendizado da língua escrita.

The aims of this study were to: verify performance advances in phonological awareness and writing skills in a child with Down syndrome speaking Brazilian Portuguese; identify which phonological awareness skills developed; analyze the influence of working memory skills on performance in phonological awareness tasks; verify the participant’s performance in phonological working memory tasks and verbal and execution intelligence. The child was seven years old at the onset of the study and was receiving mainstream schooling. Phonological awareness and writing skills were assessed at three time points (T1, T2, T3) during a period of 4 years and 8 months. The Phonological Awareness: Sequential Evaluation Instrument (CONFIAS) was used to assess phonological awareness. In T1 and T2, writing skills were also evaluated using the same instrument. At T3 we used the writing subtest of the Child Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NEUPSILIN-INF). At T1 phonological working memory was evaluated using the word span task and at T3 we used the non-words subtest of the NEUPSILIN-INF. To evaluate verbal and performance intelligence quotient (T3) we used the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Progress in writing skills and phonological awareness were identified throughout the study. Some skills in syllabic awareness also improved, but tasks that required handling of the phonemic constituents and rhyming awareness remained difficult for the patient. The participant demonstrated good performance in repeating real words. Word span of real words was superior to pseudowords span. The ability to memorize real words seemed to have improved the patient’s performance on phonological awareness tasks. The general intelligence quotient was considered borderline. It is believed that in this case, linguistic and cognitive abilities, such as verbal vocabulary, phonological working memory and intellectual capacity, influenced the performance on phonological awareness tests and enabled the child to learn written language.

This study presents a systematic review of validity evidence for neuropsychological batteries. Studies published in international databases between 2005 and 2012 were examined. Considering the specificity of neuropsychological batteries, the aim of the study was to review the statistical analyses and procedures that have been used to validate these instruments. A total of 1,218 abstracts were read, of which 147 involved studies of neuropsychological batteries or tests that evaluated at least three cognitive processes. The full text of each article was analyzed according to publication year, focal instrument of the study, sample type, sample age range, characterization of the participants, and procedures and analyses used to provide evidence of validity. The results showed that the studies primarily analyzed patterns of convergence and divergence by correlating the instruments with other tests. Measures of reliability, such as internal consistency and test-retest reliability, were also frequently employed. To provide evidence of relationships between test scores and external criteria, the most common procedures were evaluations of sensitivity and specificity, and comparisons were made between contrasting groups. The statistical analyses frequently used were Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, Pearson correlation, and Cronbach's alpha. We discuss the necessity of incorporating both classic and modern psychometric procedures and presenting a broader scope of validity evidence, which would represent progress in this field. Finally, we hope our findings will help researchers better plan the validation process for new neuropsychological instruments and batteries.

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma Escala Multidimensional de Satisfação de Vida para Adolescentes (ESMVA). Participaram 425 adolescentes (224 meninos e 201 meninas), com idade média de 16,1 anos (DP=1,2). Os itens foram selecionados por meio de procedimentos de análise de componentes principais, e a versão final da ESMVA contou com 52 itens, distribuídos em sete componentes: Família, Self, Escola, Self Comparado, Não-violência, Auto-eficácia e Amizade. O resultado mostrou uma estrutura que explicou 54% da variância. A análise da consistência interna, medida pelos valores de alfa de Cronbach, foram adequadas para cada uma das subescalas, assim como para a escala total (α = 0,93). Evidências de validade foram obtidas também por meio de correlações com uma medida de auto-estima.

The purpose of this study was to develop a Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Adolescents (MLSSA). Participants were 425 adolescents (224 boys and 201 girls) with a mean age of 16,1 years (SD=1,2) attending schools in the city of Santa Maria/RS. Items selection occurred on basis of the results from principal components analysis, and the final form of the MLSSA included 52 items, distributed over 7 factors: Family, Self, Compared Self, School, Non-violence, Self-efficacy and Friendship. The seven components explained 54% of the total variance. The coefficients of internal consistency were satisfactory for each subscale, as well as for the total scale (α=0,93). Evidences of validity were also obtained through a correlational analysis with a measure of Self-esteem.