Psychometric properties of a brief inventory for the screening of personality disorders: The SCATI

The purpose of the present study was to report on the psychometric properties of a revised version of a brief inventory designed to screen and assess personality disorders. The short form of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory (SCATI) is a 70‐item, self‐report, form of the 250‐item Coolidge Axis II Inventory (CATI). On a community sample of 588 adults (range=16–88 years), the median internal scale reliability for the 14 personality disorder scales was .66, and the median test–retest reliability (1 week) was .83. Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed a four‐component structure, essentially similar to previous PCA studies of the SCATI and CATI. Good convergent validity was obtained between a five‐factor model of psychopathology and the 14 SCATI personality disorder scales. Gender differences were obtained on some scales, although the effect sizes were generally small. These preliminary psychometric properties establish that the SCATI has sufficient reliability and validity to warrant further research, particularly in clinical samples.     

Rapid assessment of well‐being: The Short Depression‐Happiness Scale (SDHS)

The purpose of this paper was: first, to develop the short six‐item form of the Depression‐Happiness Scale; and second, to examine evidence of reliability and validity for the short form. Three studies are presented. In the first study, principal components analysis is reported and used to select six items to compose the short form of the scale. In the second study, re‐analyses of data from three previous studies are presented which confirm that the short scale has good psychometric properties of internal consistency reliability, test — retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. In the third study, the short form is found to have a single component structure and convergent validity with measures of depression, happiness and personality.     

网络依赖诊断量表初步编制

目的：根据项目反应理论（IRT）编制网络依赖诊断量表（DSFIAD）.方法：根据模型制定37个条目,5级评分.总计1831名网络使用者为样本.结果：①在测量误差0.1979水平,选取17个条目组成量表.②条目区分度1.0027-1.6771.③条目程度从1-5级均呈单向递增.④因素分析抽取2个因子,解释70.116%的总方差.⑤DSFIAD与效标显著相关（κ=0.8544）.最佳划界值45,敏感度91%,假阳性率4.1%.结论：DSFIAD条目质量及信效度符合IRT与心理测量学的要求.     

Psychometric properties and reference values of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep item banks in the Dutch general population

Psychometric properties of the v1.0 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) sleep disturbance (27 items) and sleep-related impairment (SRI; 16 items) item banks, short forms derived from the item bank, and simulated computerised adaptive test (CAT), were assessed in a representative sample of 1,006 adults from the Dutch general population. For sleep disturbance all items fitted the item response theory model. Four items showed differential item functioning (i.e., lack of measurement invariance) for age and two for language but the impact on scores (expressed as T-scores) was small. Reliable scores (r > 0.90) were found for 92.2%–96.3% of respondents with the full bank, short forms with six and eight items, and CAT, but for only 25.6% with the four-item short form. For SRI two items did not fit the item response theory model. Four items showed differential item functioning for language but the impact on T-scores was small. Reliable scores were found for 82.1% with the full bank, for 47.8%–69.5% with short forms and CAT. T-scores of 49.7 and 49.3 represent the average score of the Dutch general population for sleep disturbance and SRI, respectively. In conclusion, sufficient structural validity, reliability, and cross-cultural validity was found for the full banks but short forms of four items are not reliable enough for clinical practice. For SRI we recommend the full item bank if this is the primary outcome.     

Measuring Sense of Coherence with only three items: A useful tool for population surveys

Objectives: Sense of Coherence is the core construct of Antonovsky's salutogenetic model. To measure Sense of Coherence, a 29‐item‐questionnaire (SOC‐29), a shortened 13‐item version, and a simplified measure of only three items (SOC‐3) are available. In our study, the last was tested in terms of the psychometric properties and compared with an alternative short form derived from the SOC‐29. Methods: Data with respect to the original SOC‐29‐scale, the SOC‐3, and additional other health measures were collected in a representative general population survey, the German study ‘Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking’ (TACOS). Analyses of the factor structures, reliability and validity correlations are reported. Results: The reliability and validity results of the SOC‐3 were not encouraging. Subsequent item analyses revealed that three items taken out of the SOC‐29 outperformed the SOC‐3 in measuring Sense of Coherence in a simplified way. This newly developed instrument is presented as the Brief Assessment of Sense of Coherence (BASOC). Conclusion: The BASOC is a superior short form compared with the SOC‐3 and is recommended for large surveys with limited space for questions.     

Immediate list recall as a measure of short-term episodic memory: insights from the serial position effect and item response theory

The serial position effect shows that two interrelated cognitive processes underlie immediate recall of a supraspan word list. The current study used item response theory (IRT) methods to determine whether the serial position effect poses a threat to the construct validity of immediate list recall as a measure of verbal episodic memory. Archival data were obtained from a national sample of 4,212 volunteers aged 28-84 in the Midlife Development in the United States study. Telephone assessment yielded item-level data for a single immediate recall trial of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Two parameter logistic IRT procedures were used to estimate item parameters and the Q(1) statistic was used to evaluate item fit. A two-dimensional model better fit the data than a unidimensional model, supporting the notion that list recall is influenced by two underlying cognitive processes. IRT analyses revealed that 4 of the 15 RAVLT items (1, 12, 14, and 15) were misfit (p < .05). Item characteristic curves for items 14 and 15 decreased monotonically, implying an inverse relationship between the ability level and the probability of recall. Elimination of the four misfit items provided better fit to the data and met necessary IRT assumptions. Performance on a supraspan list learning test is influenced by multiple cognitive abilities; failure to account for the serial position of words decreases the construct validity of the test as a measure of episodic memory and may provide misleading results. IRT methods can ameliorate these problems and improve construct validity.     

The development of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: item selection, factor structure, reliability and concurrent validity

BACKGROUND: Assessments of personality constructs increasingly use self-report and structured interview instruments, which allow for a multimethod measurement approach and decrease specific measurement method bias. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable structured interview for assessing the alexithymia construct. METHODS: Sixty interview questions were written initially, each with a set of scoring criteria and prompts and probes to elicit information assisting in the scoring of the respondents' answers. RESULTS: After pilot testing, the number of questions was reduced to 43, which were administered to 136 community participants and 97 psychiatric outpatients. A series of item and scale analyses further reduced the item pool to 24 items. Principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis of these 24 items revealed preliminary evidence of a hierarchical, four-factor structure, with four lower factors nested within two higher-order latent factors. This structural configuration resulted in the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) with two domain scales and four facet scales. The TSIA and its six scales demonstrated acceptable levels of interrater, internal, and retest reliability. The TSIA and its scales correlated modestly but significantly with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and its three factor scales, providing some support for the concurrent validity of this interview. CONCLUSION: The TSIA appears to be a promising structured interview for assessing alexithymia.     

Development of a measure that integrates positive and negative affect and personality: the Comprehensive Personality and Affect Scales

The development, reliability and validity of a new measure of personality and affect, the Comprehensive Personality and Affect Scales (COPAS) was investigated in three studies of college students. In study 1, the factor structure of personality, negative affect, and positive affect was assessed, with five-factors found in each of the three analyses. Fifteen scales (Personality: Emotionality, Extroversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness; Negative Affect: Depression, Hostility, Agitation, Anxiety, and Social Anxiety; Positive Affect: Contentment, Joy, Love, Vigor, and Excitement) were constructed based on results of the factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the measurement model. In study 2, the reliability and construct validity of each of the 15 factor-derived scales was assessed in both referred and non-referred college students. Study 3 investigated the utility of the COPAS scales in differentiating referred and non-referred college students. Results indicated that reliability of the scales was good to excellent, while convergent and divergent validity was good for most scales. The COPAS scales were also shown to differentiate between referred and non-referred samples of college students. Overall, the COPAS was shown to be suitable for research with college student populations.     

Development and preliminary validation of the Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (MS-TSQ)

OBJECTIVE: The Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire, an eight-item questionnaire with a 4-week recall period, was developed to assess women's satisfaction with treatment for symptoms associated with menopause. We describe the development and initial testing of the scale. DESIGN: Following standard instrument-development procedures, focus groups were conducted with menopausal women experiencing hot flushes to generate potential constructs. Multiple items were drafted to address each construct. An iterative process of cognitive testing, item revision, and item reduction was followed to identify the most appropriate items and optimal response scales. The psychometric validation of the questionnaire used data collected through a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study including 543 postmenopausal women. Psychometric analyses were conducted to explore potential item reduction and to address questionnaire scaling and scoring. Internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity of the new scale were also examined. RESULTS: The questionnaire includes items addressing the control of daytime and nighttime hot flushes; effects of treatment on sleep, mood, libido, and cognition; medication tolerability; and overall satisfaction. Correlation analyses indicated that the items are related to each other without being overly redundant and that the item set is best described using a one-factor model. The subsequent scale score demonstrated sound internal consistency reliability, strong construct validity, and good discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the development and initial validation are favorable. It is expected that the questionnaire will prove to be a worthwhile tool for assessing women's satisfaction with treatment for menopausal symptoms.     

世界卫生组织生存质量老年人量表简化版的研制

目的:研制WHOQOL-OLD量表的简化版,并考察该简表的信效度。方法:在WHOQOL-OLD国际合作组提供的5566名老年人样本资料中,随机抽取2/3作为训练样本,1/3为考核样本。用经典测量理论和项目反应理论的方法对训练样本进行条目筛选,并用考核样本评价简表的信度和效度。结果:每个领域保留2个较优的条目,形成了12个条目的简明量表WHOQOL-OLD-12。简表各领域的平均信息量仅减少了22.1%～32.9%;简表的克朗巴赫系数为0.80;各领域与WHOQOL-BREF各领域及总分的相关系数介于0.21～0.76之间,大部分大于0.40。结论:WHOQOL-OLD简明量表具有可接受的信度和效度,是老年人生存质量研究中简单易行的测量工具。     

Development of reliable and valid short forms of the marlowe-crowne social desirability scale

Developed, on the basis of responses from 608 undergraduate students to the 33-item Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, three short forms of 11, 12, and 13 items. The psychometric characteristics of these three forms and three other short forms developed by Strahan and Gerbasi (1972) were investigated and comparisons made. Results, in the form of internal consistency reliability, item factor loadings, short form with Marlowe-Crowne total scale correlations, and correlations between Marlowe-Crowne short forms and the Edwards Social Desirability Scale, indicate that psychometrically sound short forms can be constructed. Comparisons made between the short forms examined in this investigation suggest the 13-item form as a viable substitute for the regular 33-item Marlowe-Crowne scale.     

Construction of a new personality inventory by means of factor analysis based on Promax rotation

The purpose of the paper is to construct a personality inventory which measures broader dimensions regarding multiple traits of personality common to normal people by means of extensive use of factor analysis. For the purpose, we prepared 300 items which are supposed to reflect the hypothetical 20 personality traits. Out of the 300 items, 240 items were selected on the basis of means and standard deviations of the items. We applied the oblique Promax rotation method in factor analysis and repeated it several times by changing the number of items and the number of factors. Finally, 12 factors were extracted from the 120 items, in each of which the 10 items having more than 0.4 factor loadings. Basing upon the result, we constructed a new personality inventory consisting of 13 scales (including a lie scale). The constructed scales demonstrated high test-retest reliabilities ranging from 0.880 to 0.950.     

The construction, reliability and validity of a Japanese Need for Closure Scale

The purpose of this study was to develop a Japanese Need for Closure Scale. In Study 1, Webster and Kruglanski's (1994) Need for Closure Scale was translated into Japanese, and administered to 240 undergraduates. Factor analysis of the Japanese version indicated that a three-factor structure was most appropriate. In Study 2, a revised scale was developed based on the result of Study 1, and administered to 577 undergraduates. Analysis of the revised Japanese Need for Closure Scale showed that it had sufficient internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the scale had a multidimensional structure. In Study 3, the scale was administered together with five relevant personality scales to 340 undergraduates, and sufficient construct validity of the scale was demonstrated.     

Cross-cultural adaptation,reliability, and validity of the Turkish version of the obesity-specific quality of life questionnaire: quality of life,obesity, and dietetics (QOLOD) rating scale

Background/aim Obesity is one of the main public health issues in many countries including Turkey. The aim of the study is to test cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of QOLOD rating scale in the Turkish language. Materials and methods This methodological study was conducted among the overweight and obesity people between February-March, 2018 in Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital. The data was collected through self-report and face to face interviews. The QOLOD rating scale has 36 items, a 5-point Likert scale (1–5) is used for each question. Results In the study, of the 180 participants, 101 (56.1%) were female, 79 (43.9%) were male, and the mean age was 43.36 ± 14.28 (min-max 18–87) years. According to the CFA, the Turkish version of QOLOD rating scale shows a multidimensional structure consisting of 34 items. Two items (item 11 and item 35) were excluded from the scale according to the CFA. Cronbach’s Alpha value changes between 0.927–0.930.Conclusion Finding shows that the Turkish version of QOLOD rating scale had sufficient validity and reliability for Turkish population, had strong psychometric characteristics.     

强化敏感性量表的编制

目的:编制适合我国文化背景的强化敏感性量表。方法:在文献综述、开放式调查的基础上编制出量表条目,并以724名在校大学生为被试样本对该量表进行项目分析和信效度检验。结果:1项目分析表明,除条目5和条目20外,其他的测试条目均具有良好的区分度;2验证性因素分析表明,由奖励敏感性和惩罚敏感性两个独立的子量表构成的测量模型拟合良好;3奖励敏感性子量表得分与BAS量表呈显著正相关(r=0.36,P0.01),惩罚敏感性子量表得分与BIS量表呈显著正相关(r=0.58,P0.01);4奖励敏感性和惩罚敏感性分量表的α系数分别为0.76和0.72,与3周后重测得分的相关分别为0.73和0.71(P0.01)。结论:初步编制的强化敏感性量表具有良好的信效度,基本符合心理测量学要求。     

A breast cancer fear scale: psychometric development

Fear of breast cancer has been inversely associated with participation in screening. However, investigators have generally used only one item or global scales to measure fear. This report describes development of a fear scale specific to breast cancer. Data from a large study involving mammography adherence were used to test the breast cancer fear scale for validity and reliability. Construct validity was verified through factor analysis and regression analysis predicting mammography. All items loaded on a single factor and theoretical relationships were verified by linear and logistic regression. The Cronbach alpha for the scale was.91.     

Measuring strategies for learning regulation in medical education: Scale reliability and dimensionality in a Swedish sample

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The degree of learners' self-regulated learning and dependence on external regulation influence learning processes in higher education. These regulation strategies are commonly measured by questionnaires developed in other settings than in which they are being used, thereby requiring renewed validation. The aim of this study was to psychometrically evaluate the learning regulation strategy scales from the Inventory of Learning Styles with Swedish medical students (N = 206). METHODS: The regulation scales were evaluated regarding their reliability, scale dimensionality and interrelations. The primary evaluation focused on dimensionality and was performed with Mokken scale analysis. To assist future scale refinement, additional item analysis, such as item-to-scale correlations, was performed. RESULTS: Scale scores in the Swedish sample displayed good reliability in relation to published results: Cronbach's alpha: 0.82, 0.72, and 0.65 for self-regulation, external regulation and lack of regulation scales respectively. The dimensionalities in scales were adequate for self-regulation and its subscales, whereas external regulation and lack of regulation displayed less unidimensionality. The established theoretical scales were largely replicated in the exploratory analysis. The item analysis identified two items that contributed little to their respective scales. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that these scales have an adequate capacity for detecting the three theoretically proposed learning regulation strategies in the medical education sample. Further construct validity should be sought by interpreting scale scores in relation to specific learning activities. Using established scales for measuring students' regulation strategies enables a broad empirical base for increasing knowledge on regulation strategies in relation to different disciplinary settings and contributes to theoretical development.     

中文版《婴幼儿社会认知发展筛查量表》的信度和效度评价

目的对中文版《婴幼儿社会认知发展筛查量表》进行信度和效度评价。方法在广州市和佛山市选取无精神发育疾病、无重大生理疾病的正常婴幼儿843名,选取中山大学附属第三医院儿童发育行为中心确诊为孤独症的幼儿170例,对中文版《婴幼儿社会认知发展筛查量表》进行修订,并且评价量表的信度和效度。结果①信度分析：全量表及4个子量表的Cronbach′sα系数均〉0.7;全量表及4个子量表的分半信度系数为0.69-0.94;全量表及4个子量表的重测信度系数为0.79-0.95。②效度分析：各条目与全量表的相关系数为0.31-0.86;除认人子量表与所属条目n10的相关系数为0.40,各子量表与其他所属条目相关系数均〉0.5,但与其他子量表所属条目相关性不强;各子量表间、子量表与全量表间的相关系数均〉0.5。因子分析共提取6个公因子,解释总变异的60.63%,因子分析结果与原量表结构基本一致。2-3.5岁正常幼儿全量表和4个子量表得分都显著高于同年龄段孤独症幼儿。结论中文版《婴幼儿社会认知发展筛查量表》具有较好的信度和效度,且操作简便,可用于临床上评价0.5-3.5岁婴幼儿社会认知能力的发展情况。     

The General Health Questionnaire: a psychometric analysis using latent trait theory

This study examines the Likert-style successive integer scoring of Goldberg's (1972, 1978) General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) with a psychometric model in which the thresholds between successive categories within each item can be estimated. The model is particularly appropriate because the scoring of the successive categories, which are not named in the same way across items, by successive integers has received substantial discussion in the literature. Results from 1967 teachers in Western Australia who completed the 30-item form of the GHQ show that the items conform reasonably well to the model at a general or macro-level of analysis. In particular, the original ordering of categories is supported. However, as expected, there are systematic differences between distances among threshold within items and systematic differences among thresholds between items. The differences between positively and negatively orientated items confirm a suggestion in the literature that these two classes of items form sufficiently different scales so that they could be treated as separate, though reasonably correlated, scales.     

Factorial structure and internal consistency of the German TEMPS-A scale: validation against the NEO-FFI questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the German version of the TEMPS-A questionnaire. Besides the reliability of the temperament scales, validity was the focus of interest. Therefore, the relationship between the TEMPS-A and the well-established personality questionnaire NEO-FFI, whose factors show theoretical overlap with temperaments, was investigated. METHOD: A total of 227 students aged between 20 and 42 years were asked to fill in both instruments. Reliability coefficients for the five temperament scales and correlations among the scales of both questionnaires were calculated, as well as multiple linear regression analysis with the five personality factors and gender as independent, and the five temperaments as dependent variables. RESULTS: Reliability indices for the five temperament scales were satisfactory, with values ranging between 0.63 (depressive) and 0.76 (anxious). Women scored higher on depressive and anxious scales, whereas men had higher scores on hyperthymic temperament. Correlations within the temperament scales showed close relationships between depressive, anxious and cyclothymic temperaments; cyclothymic and irritable temperament were also related. The personality factors of the NEO-FFI predicted temperaments fairly well and explained between 41% and 58% of the variance; the main effects were exerted by neuroticism and extraversion, while the irritable temperament was primarily explained by low agreeableness. LIMITATION: The study sample was relatively small and selected. CONCLUSION: The TEMPS-A scale has sufficient reliability and good validity in a non-clinical sample. It opens new possibilities for clinical research at the interface of mental disorders, temperament and personality. Such research is in progress.