Factor structure of the wechsler memory scale-revised (WMS-R) in a clinical sample: A methodological reappraisal

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Abstract
Principal components and common factors of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) were derived from a clinical sample (N = 168) of males referred for neuropsychological evaluation at a rural Veterans Administration Medical Center. One general memory component accounting for 54% of the variance was consistently identified, whether the analyses included the eight immediate subtests alone, all 12 immediate and delayed-recall subtests, or the WMS-R and VIQ/PIQ combined. Minimal support for a second factor which contributed 9.4% of the total variance was found only after Verbal and Performance IQ scores were included in the analysis. The failure of these data to support previous reports of multiple WMS-R components is attributed in part to different factor retention criteria. Principal-component loadings nominally exceeded those derived by common factor analysis. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.