Factorial structure of autobiographical recollection assessed by a Turkish version of Autobiographical Recollection Test (ART)

Abstract

Autobiographical Recollection Test (ART; Berntsen et al., Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition 8:305-318, 2019) is a self-report measure of individual differences in autobiographical recollection that comprises seven highly correlated subdimensions. In Study 1 (N = 357), we investigated the degree to which these subdimensions are independent by examining the second-order factor and bifactor models of scores from Turkish translation of ART. Results showed that ART scores are best represented with an incomplete bifactor model in which a strong general factor captures autobiographical recollection experience in general, and three specific factors capture additional individual differences in Reliving, Rehearsal, and Life-story relevance. Vividness, Coherence, Scene, and Visual imagery dimensions did not capture any unique information above and beyond the general factor. In Study 14, we cross-validated the incomplete bifactor model of ART on a separate sample of participants (N = 359). In Study 18 (N = 524) we examined the relations of the general factors and Reliving, Rehearsal, and Life-story relevance specific factors with episodic memory and depression scores. The general factor was positively, and the three specific factors were negatively associated with episodic memory. The general factor and the specific factors of Reliving and Life-story relevance were not associated with depression, whereas the specific factor Rehearsal was positively associated with depression. We discussed the results and suggested strategies for the proper use and interpretation of ART scores in autobiographical memory research.