Virtual Week : validity and psychometric properties of a polish adaptation

Prospective memory (PM) refers to memory for future intentions and it is essential for safe and independent living. This paper focuses on Virtual Week (VW), a measure that was developed to closely represent everyday PM tasks in an English language setting in North America and Australia. Objectives: The main objective of the present study is to offer the results of a Polish adaptation of VW and present the validity and psychometric properties of the adapted version. Method: the Spearman-Brown split-half reliability coefficients and Cronbach's alphas were estimated in 77 young adults and 83 healthy older adults. To confirm the validity of the Polish VW, we analyzed whether it is sensitive to the pattern of PM deficits in the healthy elderly that is consistent with mechanisms underlying PM performance as well as theories of normal aging. Results: the Polish VW was found to have strong psychometric properties and be sensitive to theory- and data-based effects on PM. Conclusion: the findings strongly encourage the use of VW for experimental purposes in healthy older adults. They provide further evidence that VW has a universal appeal and may be used in non-English speaking European samples.