The adapted Autobiographical interview: A systematic review and proposal for conduct and reporting

Behav Brain Res. 2019 Sep 16:370:111881. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.03.050. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Abstract

The adapted Autobiographical Interview (AI) is one of the most commonly used and widely cited measures of prospection in adult humans. The use of this instrument requires investigators to make many decisions that can influence the outcomes of studies. Here, we performed a systematic review of studies utilizing the adapted AI. We assessed and characterized the studies on various aspects of methodological quality and reporting. We then investigated and reported on several properties of adapted AI scores that have implications for their interpretation. We conclude by proposing Conduct and Reporting of Autobiographical Interview (CRAI) guidelines to contribute to the improvement of the reporting quality for studies that use the adapted AI, and hope that this will contribute to future efforts to validate this influential measurement instrument of prospection in humans.

Keywords: Episodic foresight; Episodic memory; Episodic simulation; Mental time travel; Scene construction.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Executive Function
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imagination
  • Interview, Psychological / methods*
  • Interview, Psychological / standards*
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Mental Recall
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards