The Paired‐Associate Learning Subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale: Six New Parallel Forms

A list of easy pairs was constructed using word frequency (Thorndike & Lorge, 1944) and association value (Miller, 1970). Similarly, a list of hard pairs was constructed with words of known frequency and zero association values. These were then used to construct six tests which appeared prima faciae to be of similar difficulty to the Wechsler lists. The order in which Wechsler interspersed easy and hard pairs was copied in each case. The two Wechsler tests and the six new tests were then all given to each of a series of eight subjects. The subjects throughout were current psychiatric patients excluding only those who had an acute psychotic disorder or those who for other reasons were unable or did not wish to complete the tests. An 8 times 8 randomized Latin square design was used. The Latin square was selected randomly from Fisher and Yates, both the order of tests and subjects being randomized in the design. The tests were given and scored according to Wechsler's original instructions. A correct easy pair scores 1, a correct hard pair scores 2, the total is divided by 2 to give the final score. The maximum score for combined easy and hard pairs on three recalls is 21.