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Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire for Adults and the Elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Isabelle Fort
Affiliation:
University Nancy 2, France
Linda Adoul
Affiliation:
University Nancy 2, France
Delphine Holl
Affiliation:
University Nancy 2, France
Joël Kaddour
Affiliation:
University Nancy 2, France
Kamel Gana*
Affiliation:
University Nancy 2, France
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Prof. Kamel Gana, Groupe d'Analyse Psychométrique des conduites, Université Nancy 2, B.P. 3397, 54015 Nancy – France. ([email protected])

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a French version of the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) (Troyer & Rich, 2002). The MMQ, which is suited to clinical and research purposes, evaluates subjective memory functioning (i.e., affect related to memory abilities, frequency of problems remembering in different situations, and strategy use in everyday life). The questionnaire was administered to 294 French adult or elderly subjects (46–94 years old). The results allowed us to conclude that the French version of this scale is psychometrically sound. Indeed, the scores proved to be highly reliable (Cronbach's α for the subscales ranged from 0.79 to 0.88) and correlated in the expected directions with measures of other constructs (correlation coefficients ranged from −0.34 to 0.39). Convergent validity evidence for MMQ scores was provided by their statistically significant positive correlations (from 0.56 to 0.73) with several dimensions of the Metamemory in Adulthood scale (MIA) (i.e., the anxiety, change, capacity and strategy dimensions). However, the three-factor model found in the original version was not validated here. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that a four-factor solution offered the most interpretable pattern for the factor scores. Two of the dimensions proposed by Troyer and Rich (2002) were replicated: ability and contentment. The third subscale (strategy) was divided into two factors: internal strategies and external strategies.

Résumé

Cette recherche a pour objectif l'fetude des qualites psychometriques d'fune version francaise du Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) (Troyer et Rich, 2002). Le MMQ a ete elabore pour etre utilise a la fois dans une perspective clinique et dans une perspective de recherche. Il evalue le fonctionnement mnesique subjectif (c'fest-a-dire les affects relatifs aux aptitudes de memoire, l'foccurrence de problemes survenant dans differentes situations et l'futilisation de strategies dans la vie quotidienne). Le questionnaire a ete administre a 294 sujets adultes et ages (de 46 a 94 ans). Les resultats permettent de conclure que notre version presente de bonnes qualites psychometriques. En effet, ils ont montre la fiabilite du questionnaire (les coefficients α de Cronbach varient de 0,79 a 0,88 pour les differentes sous-echelles) et des correlations significatives dans le sens attendu avec d'fautres constructs (les coefficients de correlation varient entre -0,34 et 0,39). La validite convergente des scores au MMQ a ete mise en evidence par des correlations significatives positives avec plusieurs sous-echelles du Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA), a savoir les sous-echelles anxiete, changement, capacite et strategie. Cependant, la solution a trois facteurs obtenue avec la version originale n'fa pas ete validee dans notre etude. Une analyse factorielle exploratoire a montre qu'fune solution a quatre facteurs permet une interpretation plus adequate des scores. Deux des dimensions proposees par Troyer et Rich (2002) ont ete repliquees : les dimensions satisfaction et problemes. La troisieme sous-echelle (strategies) a ete subdivisee en deux facteurs : strategies internes et strategies externes.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2004

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