NLSY79 Child Assessments

Memory for Digit Span

AGES:  CHILDREN 7-11 YEARS

(CALLED BY DIGIT-EXEC OF CHILD SUPPLEMENT.)

NOTE:  SAMPLE SCREENS APPEAR IN APPENDIX B.

[IF NEEDED, READ TO MOTHER/GUARDIAN.] (See Sample Screen: Appendix B, Figure 5)

               This section gives us an idea of (Child Name)'s memory for number order.  Each sequence of numbers has more digits than the last.  It is rare for anyone to remember all the sequences. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIGITS FORWARD.

                 ADMINISTER QUESTIONS:

                 (1)   READ EACH DIGIT SPAN ONLY ONCE AT AN EVEN RATE OF 1 DIGIT PER SECOND.

                 (2)   READ PART A OF QUESTION; PAUSE FOR RESPONSE, THEN SCORE.

                 (3)   READ PART B OF QUESTION; PAUSE FOR RESPONSE, THEN SCORE. 

                 (4)   IF CHILD DOES NOT RESPOND, DO NOT ENCOURAGE FURTHER.

                 (5)   STOP WHEN CHILD MISSES PART A AND PART B OF ANY ONE QUESTION.

                 SCORE QUESTIONS:

                 (1)   TO BE SCORED CORRECT, NO DIGITS MAY BE OMITTED OR BE IN REVERSE ORDER.

Reproduced by permission from the WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN‑REVIS�ED.  � 1974 by the Psychological Corporation.  All rights reserved.

DIGITS FORWARD (See Sample Screen: Figure 6)

READ TO CHILD:

I am going to say some numbers.  Listen carefully, and when I am through, say them right after me.  SAY:  "Ready" BEFORE EACH QUESTION. 

�������� (One item is shown per screen; e.g., item 1A is shown on one screen, and item 1B on the next)

DIGITS BACKWARD (See Sample Screen: Appendix B, Figure 7)

READ:          Now I am going to say some more numbers, but this time when I stop, I want you to say them backward.  For example, if I say 9‑2‑7, what would you say?

PAUSE FOR THE CHILD TO RESPOND. DID CHILD RESPOND CORRECTLY (7-2-9)?     

YES �.(7‑2‑9)    SAY:  That's right.  Let's go on with the rest of the numbers. PROCEED TO 1^ST ITEM

NO�. SAY:  No, you would say 7‑2‑9.  I said 9‑2‑7, so to say it backward you would say 7‑2‑9.  Now try these numbers.  Remember, you are to say them backward:  3‑6‑5.

WHETHER THE CHILD IS CORRECT OR WRONG ON THE SECOND EXAMPLE, THE TEST WILL PROCEED.

(One item shown per screen.)

RETURN TO CHILD SUPPLEMENT AT DIGIT-EXEC

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