An item response theory/confirmatory factor analysis of the autobiographical memory test

James W. Griffith; Jennifer A. Sumner; Elise Debeer; Filip Raes; Dirk Hermans; Susan Mineka; Richard E. Zinbarg; Michelle G. Craske

doi:10.1080/09658210902939348

An item response theory/confirmatory factor analysis of the autobiographical memory test

James W. Griffith, Jennifer A. Sumner, Elise Debeer, Filip Raes, Dirk Hermans, Susan Mineka, Richard E. Zinbarg, Michelle G. Craske

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) is used to assess the degree of specificity of autobiographical memory. The AMT usually contains cue words of both positive and negative valence, but it is unclear whether these valences form separate factors or not. Accordingly, confirmatory factor analysis assessed whether the AMT measures one overall factor, or whether different cue types are related to different factors. Results were consistent across three datasets (N = 333, N = 405, and N = 336). A one-factor model fitted each dataset well, which suggests that responses to positive and negative cues are related to the one construct. In addition, item response theory analyses showed that the AMT is most precise for people who score low on memory specificity. Implications for using the AMT with high-functioning samples are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	609-623
Number of pages	15
Journal	Memory
Volume	17
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210902939348
State	Published - Aug 2009

Funding

Keywords

Autobiographical memory
Emotional valence
Factor analysis
Item response theory
Overgeneral memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
General Psychology

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10.1080/09658210902939348

Cite this

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title = "An item response theory/confirmatory factor analysis of the autobiographical memory test",

abstract = "The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) is used to assess the degree of specificity of autobiographical memory. The AMT usually contains cue words of both positive and negative valence, but it is unclear whether these valences form separate factors or not. Accordingly, confirmatory factor analysis assessed whether the AMT measures one overall factor, or whether different cue types are related to different factors. Results were consistent across three datasets (N = 333, N = 405, and N = 336). A one-factor model fitted each dataset well, which suggests that responses to positive and negative cues are related to the one construct. In addition, item response theory analyses showed that the AMT is most precise for people who score low on memory specificity. Implications for using the AMT with high-functioning samples are discussed.",

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AU - Griffith, James W.

AU - Sumner, Jennifer A.

AU - Debeer, Elise

AU - Raes, Filip

AU - Hermans, Dirk

AU - Mineka, Susan

AU - Zinbarg, Richard E.

AU - Craske, Michelle G.

PY - 2009/8

Y1 - 2009/8

N2 - The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) is used to assess the degree of specificity of autobiographical memory. The AMT usually contains cue words of both positive and negative valence, but it is unclear whether these valences form separate factors or not. Accordingly, confirmatory factor analysis assessed whether the AMT measures one overall factor, or whether different cue types are related to different factors. Results were consistent across three datasets (N = 333, N = 405, and N = 336). A one-factor model fitted each dataset well, which suggests that responses to positive and negative cues are related to the one construct. In addition, item response theory analyses showed that the AMT is most precise for people who score low on memory specificity. Implications for using the AMT with high-functioning samples are discussed.

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KW - Autobiographical memory

KW - Emotional valence

KW - Factor analysis

KW - Item response theory

KW - Overgeneral memory

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An item response theory/confirmatory factor analysis of the autobiographical memory test

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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