Standard Versions

The Standard versions of the complex span tasks use the traditional administration time, with 3 blocks and the standard memory set-sizes. See Unsworth, Heitz, Schrock, & Engle (2005) for more information.

Symmetry Span


Memory Task: Square Locations

Processing task: Symmetry Judgement


Operation Span


Memory Task: Letters

Processing task: Math Operations



Rotation Span


Memory Task: Arrow Direction and Size

Processing task: Mental Rotation


Reading Span


Memory Task: Words

Processing task: Sentence Judgement



Running Span


Non-Automated E-Prime 1.0


Citations


If you use any of the standard complex span tasks in your published research, we request that you cite this article in your references:

Unsworth, Heitz, Schrock, & Engle (2005)

An automated version of the operation span task. Behavior Research Methods, 37, 498-505.

If you have any questions about how the tasks are scored see:

Conway et al. (2005)

Working memory span tasks: A methodological review and user's guide. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 12, 769 - 786.

To help decide which task might be appropriate for your sample, see:

Draheim, Harrison, Embretson, & Engle (2017)

What Item Response Theory can tell us about the complex span tasls. Psychological Assessment.

If you have any questions about the reliability or validity of any of the complex span tasks, we request that you cite this article in your references:

Redick, Broadway, Meier, Kuriakose, Unsworth, Kane, & Engle (2012)

Measuring working memory capacity with automated complex span tasks. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 28, 164-171.