A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a computer program product for determining an updated set of words for use in an auditory verbal learning test

[0006]According to a first specific aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method of determining an updated set of words for use in an auditory verbal learning test, AVLT, on a first subject, the method comprising: receiving, by a processing unit, an initial set of words for use in an AVLT, wherein the initial set comprises a predetermined number of a plurality of words stored in a database; processing, by the processing unit, the initial set to determine feature values for the initial set; extracting, by the processing unit, one or more words from the database based on a desired level of similarity between the feature values associated with the one or more extracted words and the feature values of the initial set; and selecting, by the processing unit, one or more of the extracted words to include in an updated set of words for use in the AVLT for the first subject. Thus, an updated set of words can be generated which can help mitigate practice effects associated with an individual repeating an AVLT with the same set of words. In addition, the desired level of similarity enables the difficulty level of the AVLT to be increased, decreased or maintained as desired.

This can compromise the reliability and validity of the AVLT as the result will be dependent on aspects other than the short term verbal memory of the individual that the test is designed for.