Évaluer la réalisation d’une intention avec le Virtual Multitasking Test 3e édition : une étude de validité du construit
Background: Prospective memory (PM) is a complex cognitive process which involves remembering realizing an intention in the future (Ellis, 1996). PM is recognized for its implication on autonomy and safety of the person in everyday life. In several clinical contexts, detecting PM disorders could have a therapeutic utility. Yet, the traditional neuropsychological tests do not represent well enough the complexity of daily tasks. However, virtual reality represents an interesting alternative given its good ecological validity. Virtual Multitasking Test-3 (VMT-3), a three-dimensional apartment, helps to estimate PM thanks to several everyday life tasks. Objective: The objective of this research is to validate the VMT-3 on a theoretical plan by comparing it with two standardized neuropsychological tests that are recognized as being ecological (RBMT-3 and CAMPROMPT). Method: The final sample involves 102 healthy participants, among whom 48 women and 54 men with an average age of 41. We compared the subjects’ performance using traditional tests of PM and episodic memory (EM) as well as the VMT-3. Results: The correlations of this present study found significant links between index of the VMT-3 and index of ME and MP part of the RBMT-3. The CAMPROMPT was only correlated with event-based index of the VMT-3. Conclusion: The VMT-3 proposes valid indications of PM (event-based type). Future research is necessary to continue this validation study. The results’ interpretation suggests that the realization of the VMT-3 is possible thanks to some cognitive functions, among which the PM, the executive functions and the multitasking. We suggest that the VMT-3 should be compared with ecological neuropsychological tests which evaluate multitasking abilities.
Prospective memory Validity criteria Psychometry Neuropsychology Ecological assessment Virtual reality