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Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1026/0049-8637/a000189

Abstract. Working memory (WM) is a key predictor of academic success. Therefore, standardized tools for measuring WM are of critical importance. So far, WM tests in the German-speaking research community require one-to-one instruction, making WM assessment time- and resource-consuming. To ease assessment of WM, a tablet-based, group-administrable application for German-speaking children and adolescents was developed. The aim of the current study was to investigate the applicability, reliability, and validity of the word span, Corsi block, and word span backward tasks of the newly designed application for use with primary and secondary school children. The results indicated good internal consistency and satisfactory test–retest reliability for all three tasks. In addition, the results provide some indication of content and concurrent validity. We conclude that the application is a promising tool for the assessment of WM and has the potential for resource-saving collection of developmental data in large-scale studies.


Tabletgestützte Arbeitsgedächtniserfassung bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Zusammenfassung. Das Arbeitsgedächtnis (AG) ist ein zentraler Prädiktor schulischen Erfolgs. Daher besteht ein großer Bedarf an standardisierten Instrumenten zur Messung des AGs. Bislang existieren dazu im deutschsprachigen Raum lediglich Verfahren, die eine Eins-zu-Eins Instruktion verlangen, wodurch AG Erfassung zeit- und ressourcenintensiv ist. Um eine ökonomischere AG Erfassung zu ermöglichen, wurde eine tabletgestützte, gruppentestgeeignete Applikation für deutschsprachige Kinder und Jugendliche entwickelt. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Durchführbarkeit, Reliabilität und Validität der Aufgaben Wortspanne, Corsi Block und Wortspanne rückwärts der neu entwickelten Applikation bei Grund- und Sekundarschulkindern zu überprüfen. Die Ergebnisse weisen auf gute interne Konsistenzen und zufriedenstellende Retest-Reliabilitäten für alle drei Aufgaben hin. Darüber hinaus liefern die Ergebnisse Hinweise auf Inhaltsvalidität und konkurrente Validität. Insgesamt stellt die Applikation ein vielversprechendes Messinstrument dar, das eine ressourcensparende Datenerhebung im Kontext groß angelegter entwicklungspsychologischer Studien ermöglicht.

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