Validação da versão breve e computadorizada do teste de reconhecimento de faces brasileiro

Abstract

The ability to recognize individuals by means of facial clues is well-developed and, under regular conditions, competently applied in everyday life. However, there may alterations in the ability to process such facial visual clues, indicating underlying health conditions. To this end, the use of high-quality psychometric tests, which are readily applicable are essential for the evaluation of perceptive abilities and facial memory and possible harm. The purpose of this study was to validate a brief and computerized version of the Brazilian Face Recognition Test (TRFBr). The test has 3 stages with progression of difficulties. In stage A, evaluated frontal neutral faces and with emotions, in stage B neutral frontal faces and with angulation and in stage C neutral frontal faces and with emotions and angulations. Study 1 evaluated the effect of the sequence of presented stimuli on the conditions of perception and memory. This was done in three experiments, of which the first experiment evaluated the sequence of faces A, B and C with the conditions of perception and memory in 111 individuals with an average age of 27,93 years (SD of 9,12). Experiment 2 evaluated the sequence amongst faces B, A and C with the conditions of perception and memory in 100 individuals (average age 26,96 years, SD 9,48). Lastly, experiment 3 evaluated sequence A, B and C with the memory condition, followed by that of perception, in 100 subjects (average age 26,65 years, SD= 9,12). Results show that, in order to represent the progressive level of difficulty, the sequence B, A and C was the most adequate, without alterations to the order between conditions, in addition, no effects were found for sex and the effects for age only were found when there was an inversion of conditions. Study 2 presented the measures of validation of the test version through an Exploratory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory, in reference to the total sample of study 1. The results show a unifactorial structure and favorable indexes of the validity of internal structures for both conditions. Furthermore, as a way to maintain the quality of the test, some items were withdrawn, and the version of the study presented a short and reliable version of Face Recognition Test, which can be used to future research and assessment of these skills in clinical settings.