The Chinese version of the Memory for Intentions Test (MIST): Development and evaluation of its reliability and concurrent validity

Objective: This study aims to develop a simplified Chinese version of the “Memory for Intentions Test” (MIST), evaluate its reliability and concurrent validity, explore the inter-relationships among the MIST variables and the relationships between the MIST variables and socio-demographic factors. Method: Two hundred healthy, Chinese-speaking adults of the Han community participated in this study. Form A of the Chinese MIST and two prospective items of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test, Second Edition (RBMT-II, Chinese version) were administered to all participants to evaluate internal consistency, split-half reliability, and concurrent validity. Twenty of these participants were assessed twice on Form A with a two-week interval to examine test-retest reliability. They were also assessed on both Form A and Form B to examine alternate-form reliability. Results: The findings of the study indicated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .833) and excellent split-half reliability (r = .924–.930) among the six subscales of the Chinese MIST, although the internal consistency was low (Cronbach’s α = .129) for individual PM trials. We also found adequate concurrent validity (ρ = .722, p< .001), test-retest reliability (ρ = .716, p < .001), and alternate-form reliability (ρ= .828, p < .001). Conclusions: The Chinese MIST demonstrated suitable reliability and concurrent validity in the Chinese-speaking population. The present study provides a new standardized prospective memory test for the Chinese population, which would enhance future clinical research in this field on the Chinese mainland.