Assessing knowledge: psychometric properties of the BAMS semantic memory battery

Abstract Background: Semantic memory is a cultural influenced cognitive domain that is responsible for our knowledge about words and the world. Semantic Memory Battery (BAMS) is a new battery that evaluate semantic memory based on a compendium of tasks, including verbal fluency, naming, conceptualization, categorization, general questions, and word definitions, and was designed to consider cultural aspects. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the BAMS psychometrics structure comprising classical and modern analysis, and also evaluate a clinical subdivision of the battery. Methods: 114 Brazilian cognitively healthy older adults BAMS performance provided data for psychometric analysis using validity tests, item response theory analysis and confirmatory factor analysis for goodness-of-fit measures. Results: BAMS results revealed good validity and good-fit measures in each subtest, total score (X2 = 20.684, p = 0.110) and a hierarchical structure with clinical subdivision of the battery (X2 = 20.089, p = 0.093). Discussion: BAMS is a new compendium of tasks that evaluate distinct aspects of semantic memory and can clinically consider the impact of executive function. This battery evaluates verbal fluency, naming, conceptualization, categorization, general knowledge and word definitions. The BAMS has clinical importance once semantic memory is mostly influenced by culture and language, and there is an absence of broadly semantic memory tests in our scenario, especially with older adults that can have a pathological aging condition that affects primarily or secondarily this domain.

摘要 研究背景：语义记忆（Semantic Memory）是受文化影响的认知领域，负责人类关于词汇与客观世界的知识体系。语义记忆测验组合（Semantic Memory Battery，BAMS）是一款全新的测评工具，基于一系列任务集评估语义记忆，涵盖言语流畅性、命名、概念化、分类、常识问答以及词汇定义任务，且设计时充分考量了文化维度因素。研究目的：本研究旨在通过经典与现代分析方法，评估BAMS的心理测量学结构，同时对该测验组合的临床细分维度进行验证。方法：招募114名巴西认知健康的老年人，采集其完成BAMS测验的表现数据，通过效度检验、项目反应理论（Item Response Theory）分析以及验证性因子分析（Confirmatory Factor Analysis）评估模型拟合度，开展心理测量学研究。结果：BAMS的各子测验、总分（χ² = 20.684，p = 0.110）以及带临床细分维度的层级结构（χ² = 20.089，p = 0.093）均表现出良好的效度与模型拟合度。讨论：BAMS是一套用于评估语义记忆多维度特征的全新任务组合，可在临床场景中考量执行功能的影响。该测验组合覆盖言语流畅性、命名、概念化、分类、常识测评以及词汇定义任务。鉴于语义记忆显著受文化与语言因素影响，且当前领域内缺乏适用于巴西人群的广谱语义记忆测评工具，尤其是针对可能存在病理衰老状态、进而原发性或继发性影响语义记忆功能的老年人群，因此BAMS具备重要的临床应用价值。