How to Measure Short Term Memory

You can evaluate short-term memory by using a variety of methods based on different theories. The outcomes can provide insight to specific aspects of a person's memory. For example, according to Muriel Deutsch Lezak's book "Neuropsychological Assessment," the results of one test may show that a person has more difficulty remembering words than numbers. The medical and scientific communities use a standardized battery of tests to conduct memory testing. Those tests can be difficult to access outside of the academic community. The general format of the more popular ones can be extrapolated to create a basic test.

Things You'll Need

• Printer
• Stopwatch or timer
• Notepad

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Instructions

Immediate and Delayed Logical Memory Test

• 1

  Write a four- to five-sentence paragraph that can be read in about 30 seconds. Make it a story. It should have 20 to 25 key elements, such as names and other proper nouns, numbers and action verbs. Print three copies of the paragraph in a legible standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, at a type size that test subject can read easily.

• 2

  Practice develops a smooth, more natural test administration, which improves results.

  Practice reading the paragraph in a smooth and standardized manner while pausing between important words or phrases. Use a stopwatch or timer to time your reading to be about 30 seconds in length.

• 3

  Conduct the test in a quiet area free of distractions. Inform the subject that you will read her a story. Instruct her to pay attention so that she can tell you everything she can remember about the story after you finish reading.

• 4

  Read the story as practiced. As the subject recalls the story, cross off the key elements that were remembered until the test subject says she cannot remember anything else. The recall can be done in any order. Use the second copy you printed to cross off the recalled elements.

• 5

  Tell the subject to remember the story because you will ask her about it later. Distract the subject with other activities for 30 minutes.

• 6

  Ask her to recall the story after the 30-minute period. Use the third copy you printed to mark the number of correct elements that the patient recalled. Tally the results.

• 7

  Compare the number of story elements that the subject remembered from each session. Most people remember far more details during the first session. According to "Neuropsychological Assessment," exceptions indicate specific traits, including learning style, specific mental illness and deficiencies.

Digit Span Test

• 8

  Write down sequences of random numbers ranging from two to 10 digits. For example, write 76, 45, 28, 348, 239 and 475. Keep this list as a personal reference when testing the subject.

• 9

  Tell the subject that you will give him a series of numbers and that you would like for him to repeat the numbers directly back to you. Begin with the two-digit sequence using clear enunciation of the numbers and a distinct pause between each number.

• 10

  Seat the subject where he can't view the data.

  Speak the next highest series of numbers after the person correctly recalls one string of numbers. If the subject fails to recall the numbers correctly, move on to another sequence of numbers that is the same length. End the test after the subject fails two attempts to recall a number sequence of the same length.

• 11

  Tell the subject that you will tell him a series of numbers and that you would like for him to repeat the numbers backward to you. Explain the task to the subject using an example such as this: "If I tell you the numbers 4, 9, 2, I want you to say 2, 9, 4." Begin with a different two-digit sequence using clear enunciation of the numbers and a distinct pause between each number.

• 12

  State the next highest series of numbers after the person correctly recalls one string of numbers in backward order. If the subject fails to recall the numbers correctly, proceed to another sequence of numbers that is the same length. End the test after a subject fails two attempts to recall the number sequence of the same length in backward order.

• 13

  Document the size of the number sequence that the test subject could recall correctly. According to "Neuropsychological Assessment," the average number of digits correctly recalled by a healthy adult is 7 when recalling digits forward and 4 when recalling digits backward.