B - 136 A Validity Study of an Embedded Performance Validity Measure of Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Third Edition

Abstract Objective This study investigated chance levels of responding on the Recognition Memory component of the performance validity test 2 (PVT2) measure embedded within the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Third Edition (WRAML3; Adams & Sheslow, 2021). While standardized norms are provided, the WRAML3 has yet to examine PVT2 scores obtained through random responding. Given the impact of suboptimal effort and performance on test scores, providing scores obtained through guesstimation can help differentiate low scores due to impairment from chance responding. Methods Participants included 50 volunteer undergraduates and graduate students. To assess levels of random responding on PVT2 items, participants responded to the four Recognition memory subtests of the WRAML3 without the usual prior exposure to immediate and delayed subtest content. One-sample t-tests were conducted to compare participant performance scores to statistical chance levels of responding and the established PVT2 cut-off scores. Results Analyses revealed that the mean total PVT2 score was significantly lower than the established WRAML3 PVT2 cut-off score of 17 (t(49) = −26.88, p < 0.001). Regarding chance levels of responding, participants’ random responses were significantly different from the hypothesized chance mean of 5 (t(49) = 6.24, p < 0.001). Conclusions Findings support the overall utility of the available WRAML-3 embedded PVT2 cutoff scores while indicating individuals who rely on guesstimation techniques may be able to answer better than chance. These results establish a new standard of random response on the WRAML3, which may be utilized to determine whether scores below the PVT2 cutoff are invalid or may warrant further investigation.