Benton Visual Retention Test
The Benton Visual Retention Test (or simply Benton test or BVRT) is an
individually administered test for people aged from eight years to adulthood that
measures visual perception and visual memory. It can also be used to help
identify possible learning disabilities among other conditions that might affect an
individual's memory. The individual examined is shown ten designs, one at a
time, and asked to reproduce each one as exactly as possible on plain paper
from memory. The test is untimed, and the results are professionally scored by
form, shape, pattern, and arrangement on the paper.
History
Arthur Benton was a psychologist who worked with neurologist Morris
Bender during his military assignment to the San Diego Naval Hospital. His
experiences in the treatment of servicemen who had traumatic brain injuries led
to his development of the Benton Visual Retention Test. Dr. Benton developed the
test to provide a shorter assessment for immediate nonverbal memory to
supplement the popular digit span test, and selected a format that was resistant
to both emotional and subject-tester influence. The test was published in 1946,
and is now currently in its 5th edition.
Testing
Test format
A sample design used in Administration M of the Benton Test. The
original design is shown at the top, and after a delay, the four design
choices are shown and the subject is asked to choose the one that best
matches the original design.
The Benton Visual Retention Test is composed of 3 sets, or forms, of 10 designs
(each 8.5 × 5.5 in.) that measure the examinee's visual and memory abilities as
well as a set of alternate designs for repeated tests. The examinee is given a
booklet containing 10 blank pages on which they reproduce the designs. These
designs are used to measure the examinee's visual perception and memory, and
can be administered five different ways. These five methods are as follows:
Meth
od Description
Type
The examinee views each design for 10 seconds before reproducing
A
them
The examinee views each design for 5 seconds before reproducing
B
them
The examinee views each design and is allowed to reproduce them
C
while viewing the designs for an indefinite amount of time
The examinee views each design for 10 seconds, and then waits 15
D
seconds before reproduction begins
The examinee views each design for 10 seconds, and then chooses the
M
correct design from a multiple choice of four displays
In every method except for Administration C, the original design is hidden before
reproduction begins.
Test scoring
The test can be scored two ways.
First method: The number of correct scores is calculated based on an all-or-
nothing approach; points are awarded if the reproduction of the design matches
the original.
Second method: The number of error score, on the other hand, is calculated
based on the number and type of errors made for each design. The major
categories for these errors are omissions, distortions, perseverations, rotations,
misplacements, and size errors. These scores are then compared to several sets
of normative data available in the manual, each representing different
demographic characteristics, and conclusions can be drawn by the examiner. The
two different methods of scoring allow for both quantitative and qualitative
analysis of an individual's test.
Uses
The Benton Test is sensitive to many forms of brain impairments and diseases,
but it is difficult to diagnose a particular disease through the test. In fact,
according to the test manual, a high number of a single category of error should
not be used as a diagnosis, but should lead to further testing. High amounts of
perseverations, for example, suggests frontal lobe damage, while the omission of
peripheral designs suggests potential brain trauma, especially in the
right parietal lobe. Overall performance does not seem to distinguish those
with unilateral left or right hemisphere damage. Nevertheless, examiners have
shown to be able to discriminate among perceptual, memory, and motor
impairments based on analysis of the test results. Dementia, brain
lesions, thalamic stroke, and Alzheimer's disease are among the conditions that
have been shown to greatly reduce an individual's BVRT score. Both the copy and
memory versions of the test are especially sensitive to dementia, and may help
identify individuals who are at risk for developing Alzheimer's later. In addition,
learning disabilities among children are able to be identified through the Benton
Test. In 1983, the Benton Test was included in the Neurobehavioral Core Test
Battery (NCTB) to identify the effects of chemical exposure on the nervous
system and has since been used to assess chemical exposure in the workplace.
From its use in the NCTB, the Benton Test has shown sensitivity to various
chemical exposures, including mercury exposure, lead exposure, and pesticide
exposure.
Psychometric properties
According to the Benton Test manual, test-retest reliability of the Benton Test is
0.85, and alternate form reliabilities range from 0.79 to 0.84. Correlation
between immediate and delayed memory recall (Administration type A and D,
respectively) ranges from 0.40 to 0.83, depending on the combinations of forms
used. Included with the manual are standardized results for children,
adolescents, and adults, though each administration method have their own
standardization data. Total errors on the test have been shown to increase with
age, especially after the age of 70.
Criticisms and validity
The Benton Test has been criticized by test's requirement of the examinee's IQ or
estimated IQ, which can be difficult to obtain if the examinee is in a poor
condition. In addition, data from studies that look at the viability of retesting a
patient have shown conflicting results; some studies show no difference in scores
after time has passed between two tests, while other studies show a
difference. Despite these reports, the Benton Test has several advantages over
other tests of visual memory. These include: a more explicit scoring system than
other tests, parallel-forms reliability due to the presence of multiple form sets,
and short administration time. Because of this, the BVRT is still widely used today
for a large number of clinical conditions.
