Frequency of Forgetting Scale-10 (FOF-10)

Abstract

The Frequency of Forgetting Scale-10 (FOF-10) is a brief, psychometrically rigorous instrument designed to measure an individual’s self-perception of everyday memory failures. Developed by Elizabeth M. Zelinski and Michael J. Gilewski, this scale is a refined, 10-item subset derived from the much broader Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ). The FOF-10 utilizes Rasch Model analysis to establish a unidimensional measure of subjective memory complaints, primarily targeting the frequency of common forgetting events experienced in daily life. It is widely used in aging research and clinical settings to assess the subjective component of memory decline and memory self-efficacy.

Keywords

Frequency of Forgetting Scale-10, FOF-10, subjective memory complaints, memory self-efficacy, self-report, psychological assessment, Rasch model, aging, everyday memory.

Authors

Zelinski, E.M., Gilewski, M.J.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the FOF-10 is to provide a concise and highly reliable measure of the perceived frequency of forgetting events. Unlike objective memory tests that measure actual performance, this scale captures the respondent’s subjective experience of memory failures across various domains, such as recalling names, directions, or recent information.

The scale was specifically developed to meet the need for a short, effective tool with interval-level measurement properties, achieved through its adherence to the principles of the Rasch Model. This makes the FOF-10 particularly useful for longitudinal studies and large-scale screening where measurement precision and brevity are critical.

Construct

The FOF-10 measures the construct of Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC), often interpreted within the context of Memory Self-Efficacy. It reflects how often individuals believe they experience forgetting in common situations. This construct is crucial because self-perceived memory function is often a stronger predictor of psychological well-being and adaptive behavior in older adults than objective memory scores alone.

The items selected for the FOF-10 represent a gradient of difficulty regarding everyday forgetting, ensuring that the scale effectively discriminates between individuals with low, moderate, and high levels of perceived memory dysfunction.

Validity

The validity of the FOF-10 is supported by its foundational relationship with the original Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), which has established concurrent validity with objective memory performance measures. Studies utilizing the MFQ and its subsets have demonstrated that self-reported memory failures correlate significantly, though moderately, with actual performance, indicating that subjective reports capture a genuine, albeit distinct, aspect of memory function.

Furthermore, the use of Rasch modeling during the scale’s development ensures strong construct validity by confirming that the items measure a single, underlying latent trait (the frequency of forgetting) in a hierarchical manner.

Reliability

The FOF-10 exhibits excellent internal consistency, typically showing high Cronbach’s alpha values, reflecting the homogeneity of the 10 selected items. The Rasch analysis confirms the scale’s high measurement precision and item reliability, which are essential for comparing scores across different populations and over time in longitudinal research. Test-retest reliability has been established across various time points in studies focused on aging populations, confirming its stability.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis of the FOF-10 is primarily achieved through the application of the Rasch Model. This approach is more rigorous than traditional classical test theory factor analysis (like Principal Components Analysis) as it validates the scale’s fit to a predefined measurement model. The successful Rasch modeling of the 10 items confirmed that the scale is essentially unidimensional, meaning all items contribute to measuring the same construct (frequency of forgetting) along a single continuum. This modeling also allowed the transformation of ordinal raw scores into interval-level measures.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Inventory (Psychometric Scale)

Format: Typically a 7-point Likert-type scale, though specific anchors vary across items (e.g., 1= Major problems to 7= No problems; or 1= Always to 7= Never).

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Adults, particularly middle-aged and older adults.

Age Group: 40+ years.

Population Details: Originally validated extensively within the context of longitudinal studies on aging and memory, such as the Seattle Longitudinal Study (SLS) and related projects focusing on age-related cognitive changes.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the frequency or severity of various everyday forgetting experiences. Scoring is based on Rasch-modeled weights derived from the specific 10 items chosen for the final scale.

Keywords

Psychology and Aging, longitudinal study, Rasch scaling, memory complaints, subjective cognitive decline, MFQ, psychometrics, self-assessment.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The FOF-10 was formally published and validated as a 10-item Rasch modeled scale in 2004, derived from earlier foundational work on the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ) dating back to 1990. As a research instrument published in academic journals, it is generally available for non-commercial research use, subject to standard academic citation protocols. Researchers are advised to contact the primary authors or consult the published articles for specific permissions regarding commercial use or adaptation. The original PDF can be downloaded here: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3263/b7fa6347bb57a6d9d8164bc52f7338447b37.pdf.

Reference’s

• Zelinski, E.M., Gilewski, M.J. & Anthony-Bergstone, C. (1990). Memory Functioning Questionnaire: concurrent validity with memory performance and self-reported memory failures. Psychology and Aging, 5, 388-399.
• Zelinski, E.M., Gilewski, M.J. & Schaie, K.W. (1993). Individual differences in cross-sectional and 3-year longitudinal memory performance across the adult life span. Psychology and Aging, 8, 176–186.
• Zelinski, E.M. & BURNIGHT, K.P. (1997). Sixteen-year longitudinal and time lag changes in memory and cognition in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 12, 503–513.
• Zelinski, E.M., Gilewski, M.J. (2004). A 10-item Rasch modeled memory self-efficacy scale. Aging Ment Health, 8(4):293-306.
• Zelinski & Gilewski, (2004). Frequency of Forgetting Scale-10. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 309-311. (2013). Google Scholar

Items of the Frequency of Forgetting Scale-10 (FOF-10)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way. Note that the list below represents the broader item pool from which the 10 specific FOF items were selected and modeled.

General frequency of forgetting

How would you rate your memory in terms of the kinds of problems that you have? (1= Major problems to 7= No problems)

How often do these present a problem for you? (1= Always to 7= Never)

• a. Names
• b. Faces
• c. Where you put things
• d. Directions to places
• e. Beginning to do something and forgetting what to do

As you are reading a novel‚ how often do you have trouble remembering what you have read… (1= Always to Never)

• a. paragraph before one currently reading
• b. the sentence before the one currently reading

How well you remember things which occurred… (1= Very bad to 7= Very good)

• a. between one and five years ago is
• b. the sentence before the one you are currently reading

Names

Things from 6–10 years ago

Things from 1–5 years ago

Novel: opening chapters‚ once finished

Words

Taking a test

Phone numbers just checked

Where you put things

Knowing whether you’ve already told someone something

Novel: 3 or 4 chapters before current one

General rating

Things from between 6 months and 1 year ago

Losing thread of thought in conversation

Things people tell you

Beginning to do something and forgetting what to do

Going to the store and forgetting what to buy

Keeping up correspondence

Opening paragraphs from a newspaper or magazine article

Personal dates (birthdays)

Newspaper or magazine: 3 or 4 paragraphs before current one

Losing thread of thought in public speaking

Faces

Novel: chapter before current one

Directions to places

Things from last month

Newspaper or magazine: paragraph before one currently reading

Phone numbers used frequently

Performing household chores

Novel: paragraph before one currently reading

Newspaper or magazine: 3–4 sentences before the one currently reading

Appointments

Novel: the sentence before the one currently reading

Newspaper or magazine: the sentence before the one currently reading