Essentials of the California Verbal Learning Test. Thomas J. Farrer
Figure 1.2 CVLT-II and CVLT3 structure, brief form.
Differences Between the CVLT-II Standard/Alternate Forms and the Short Form
| Standard/alternate form | Short form |
| Administration | |
| 16-word list from 4 categories5 Learning TrialsInterference List and RecallShort-Delay Free and Cued Recall20-min delayLong-Delay Free and Cued RecallLong-Delay Yes/No Recognition10-min DelayForced-Choice Recognition | 9-word list from 3 categories4 Learning Trials30-s distraction taskShort-Delay Free Recall10-min delayLong-Delay Free and Cued RecallLong-Delay Yes/No Recognition5-min DelayForced-Choice Recognition |
| Scoring | |
| 18 Hand-Scored Variables66 Normed Variables (Software)Multiple Raw Scores (Software) | 15 Hand-Scored Variables51 Normed Variables (Software) |
Scores derived on the CVLT-II assess attention, learning strategies, recall accuracy and consistency, proactive and retroactive interference, recall errors, recognition, and performance validity. Normative data are provided for 27 primary scores and 39 expanded scores in the scoring software. Eighteen of the primary variables can be hand scored. For the Short Form, 23 primary scores are provided along with 28 expanded scores in the scoring software. Fifteen of the primary variables can be hand scored. In addition, the scoring software provides raw data for numerous nonnormed variables in a research report.
A T score is derived for the learning trials (Trials 1–5 for Standard/Alternate Forms and Trials 1–4 for the Short Form) with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. The process scores provided in the CVLT-II provide detailed information about the learning and memory processes required to encode, recall, and recognize verbal information. For these scores, age- and gender-corrected z scores are provided with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. In addition, cumulative percentages are provided for some scores with highly skewed distributions. The normative scores derived in CVLT-II are listed in Rapid Reference 1.3 by condition.
Primary Scores Derived in CVLT-II, by Condition
| Learning trials | Recall scores | Recognition scores |
| Trial 1 Free-Recall Correcta Trial 2 Free-Recall Correcta Trial 3 Free-Recall Correcta Trial 4 Free-Recall Correcta Trial 5 Free-Recall Correcta,b Trials 1–5 Free-Recall Correct (T score)a List B Free-Recall Correcta,b List B vs. Trial 1 (contrast score) Semantic Clustering (Chance-Adjusted) Semantic Clustering Bidirectional (Chance-Adjusted) | Short-Delay Free-Recall Correcta Short-Delay Cued Recall Correcta,b Short-Delay Free Recall vs Trial 5 (contrast score) Long-Delay Free-Recall Correcta Long-Delay Cued Recall Correcta Long-Delay Free Recall vs. Short-Delay Free Recall (contrast score) Free-Recall Intrusionsa Cued-Recall Intrusionsa | Long-Delay Yes/No Recognition Total Hitsa Long-Delay Yes/No Recognition Total False Positivesa Total Recognition Discriminability (d') Total Recognition Discriminability vs. Long-Delay Free Recall (contrast score) Total Response Bias Long-Delay Forced-Choice Recognition Percent Total Accuracya |
| Subjective Clustering (Chance-Adjusted)Percent Recall from PrimacyPercent Recall from MiddlePercent Recall from RecencyTotal Learning Slope Trials 1–5Across-Trial Recall Consistency | Total Intrusionsa Total Repetitionsa Total Recall Discriminability |
aScores that are easily hand scored.
bScores not on the Short Form.
Difference scores compare performance on one task to performance on another task. On CVLT-II, difference (or savings) scores are derived using the sex- and age-corrected z-scores. Change and difference scores should not replace the primary scores but are used to guide interpretation of differences observed across conditions. Detailed information on the interpretation of scores is provided in Chapter 4.
OVERVIEW AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CVLT3
The CVLT3 is the most recent revision to the CVLT. The revision was guided by the need for updated normative data, feedback from users and reviewers of the CVLT-II (both personal and published), and research utilizing the CVLT-II. In terms of content, the administration instructions and word lists were not modified but remain the same as in the CVLT-II. However, a few items on the forced-choice recognition trial were modified to increase sensitivity as a measure of performance validity. The alternate and short forms were also retained with similar modifications made to the forced-choice recognition trial.
The CVLT3 addressed many needs identified in the research literature and customer feedback. Revisions