WMS-R and MAS correlations in a neuropsychological population

The present study was an attempt to examine the relationship between the We chsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R; Wechsler, 1987) and the Memory Assessme nt Scale (MAS; Williams, 1991). The sample consisted of 51 patients referre d for neuropsychological examination. Average age was 55.29 (SD = 20.94). A verage education was 11.94 years (SD = 3.18). Average Full Scale le was 94. 75 (SD = 15.44). The results showed that no MAS index correlated higher tha n .60 with any of the WMS-R indices. There was minimal specific prediction between instruments across each memory domain. Agreement between the tests clinically was low as well. Corrections for such factors as age, education, intelligence or diagnosis lowered the relationships between the tests alth ough not significantly. Corrections to the correlations for the inherent re liability of each test increased correlations between the tests but still r esulted in a maximum common variance of 56% (for the visual measures) down to 40% (for General Memory). These results are consistent with the argument that "general memory" is not as useful a construct as that of "general int elligence" and that these tests of general memory measure different underly ing constructs. This has important impact on how we conceive and report mem ory test results. (C) 1999 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published b y Elsevier Science Ltd.