Unit Analysis of Prose Memory in Clinical and Elderly Populations

Interpretation of clinical memory tests generally emphasizes the quantitative aspects of recall. This study presents an additional unit analysis of the Logical Memory subtest of Russell's revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale for a variety of older adult groups. Patients' neuropsychological test data were reviewed, and the paragraphs from the Logical Memory subtest were analyzed using unit analysis (Rubin, 1978). The older adults consisted of a healthy group as well as groups whose diagnoses included Alzheimer's and multi-infarct dementias, head trauma, and metabolic and affective disorders. Quantitative analyses of recall revealed group differences. Qualitative analysis of which memory units were recalled, however, showed similarities in memory processing among these groups. © 1986, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.