The latent structure of memory: A confirmatory factor-analytic study of memory distinctions

Confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate the nature of memory d istinctions underlying the performance of two samples: a sample of male Vie tnam War veterans who had not received head injuries, and a second sample o f male Vietnam War veterans who had suffered penetrating head injuries resu lting in relatively small lesions (< 10 cc volume loss). For these two grou ps, comparisons were made of the fit of seven theory-based memory models, c omprising from one to four factors. The four-component model with a verbal- episodic component, a visual-episodic component, a semantic component, and a short-term memory component provided a significantly better account of me mory performance than the others. The implications of these findings and so me advantages of this approach as a supplement to a purely experimental app roach to memory are discussed.