Spanish Version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ-S)

The concept of prospective memory is relatively recent. Thus, it is necessary to have instruments to assess it, in interaction with retrospective memory. The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ; Smith et al., 2000) is an instrument that has been effectively used for assessment in several languages. Nevertheless, there is still no Spanish adaptation. The aim of this study was to translate the PRMQ and obtain information about its psychometric properties. A back translation process was applied to the PRMQ. The resulting PRMQ-S was self-administered to 520 subjects after applying the pilot test. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test competing models of its latent structure. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The results showed an adequate internal consistency of the total scale and the Prospective and Retrospective scales were: .89, .84 and .76, respectively. The factor structure was compared with the original study. Our results suggested a disagreement with the tripartite model defended by the authors of the PRMQ. Since there is a high correlation between two factors in the bi-factor model, and the tripartite model showed non-significant loadings to the two specific factors, we recommend that the PRMQ-S be used as one general memory score. We demonstrated adequate psychometric properties of the PRMQ-S if it is used as unique measurement of memory failures. These results are relevant due to the need for a short and accurate instrument in our language that explores memory failures, which has a major impact on the activities of daily living. El concepto de memoria prospectiva es relativamente reciente. Por lo que es necesario contar con instrumentos para evaluarla en interacción con la memoria retrospectiva. El Cuestionario de Memoria Prospectiva y retrospectiva (PRMQ; Smith et al., 2000) es un instrumento que ha sido eficientemente utilizado para evaluarlas, en varios idiomas. Sin embargo, no se detectó versión alguna en español de dicho cuestionario. El propósito de este estudio fue traducir el PRMQ y obtener información sobre sus propiedades psicométricas. Un proceso de traducción inversa fue aplicado al PRMQ, el resultante PRMQ-S se aplicó a 520 personas, después de una prueba piloto. Para los análisis se utilizó el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio y el Alfa de Cronbach. Los resultados reflejaron adecuada consistencia interna de la escala completa y de las subescalas de memoria prospectiva y retrosp