The Dutch Memory Compensation Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Regression-Based Norms

Wim Van der Elst*, Esther M. Hoogenhout, Roger A. Dixon, Renate H. M. De Groot, Jelle Jolles

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The Memory Compensation Questionnaire (MCQ) is a psychometrically sound instrument that assesses the variety and extent to which an individual compensates for actual or perceived memory losses. Until now, only an English version of the MCQ has been psychometrically evaluated. The aim of the present study was to establish a Dutch version of the MCQ and evaluate its psychometric properties. The MCQ data of N = 556 cognitively healthy adults (61.8% females) aged between 50.1 and 95.3 years (M = 73.9 years, SD = 8.0) were analyzed. The results showed that the factor structure of the Dutch version of the MCQ corresponded well with that of the English version of the MCQ. The reliabilities of the scales of the Dutch version of the MCQ were all high (all Cronbach's alpha s >= .77). Demographic variables (especially age and gender) affected most of the MCQ scale scores. Regression-based normative data that take these demographic influences into account were established, and a user-friendly computer program was provided to facilitate the scoring and norming of the MCQ.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)517-529
JournalAssessment
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Memory Compensation Questionnaire
  • construct validity
  • reliability
  • metacognition
  • Dutch translation
  • compensatory behavior

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