CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF FREE-RESPONSE AND MACHINE-SCORABLE VERSIONS OF A TEST OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING

Abstract: Zuckerman postulated a biopsychological multilevel theory of Sensation Seeking, which is part of a more complex multi-trait theory, the Alternative Five. The Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS V) was developed for the measurement of Sensation Seeking. The process of validation of Sensation Seeking as part of a multilevel theory includes analyses of relations within and between several levels of measurement. The present study investigates validity and basic psychometric properties of a German version of the SSS V in a broader context of psychometric traits. - The 120 participants were mainly students. They completed the SSS V, the Venturesomeness- and Impulsiveness-Scales of the IVE, the BIS/BAS-Scales, the ZKPQ and the NEO-FFI. - The results reveal acceptable psychometric properties for the SSS V but with limitations with regard to factor structure. Indications for criterion validity were obtained by prediction of substance use by the subscales Dis and BS. The results of a MTMM analysis, especially the convergent validities of the SSS V were quite satisfying. On the whole, the results yielded sufficient support for the validity of the Sensation Seeking construct or the instrument respectively. They also point to desirable modifications.

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The Stigma of Suicide Scale

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000156 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 13-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Philip J. Batterham ◽

Alison L. Calear ◽

Helen Christensen

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Online Survey ◽

National University ◽

Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽

High Internal Consistency ◽

At Home

Background: There are presently no validated scales to adequately measure the stigma of suicide in the community. The Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS) is a new scale containing 58 descriptors of a “typical” person who completes suicide. Aims: To validate the SOSS as a tool for assessing stigma toward suicide, to examine the scale’s factor structure, and to assess correlates of stigmatizing attitudes. Method: In March 2010, 676 staff and students at the Australian National University completed the scale in an online survey. The construct validity of the SOSS was assessed by comparing its factors with factors extracted from the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ). Results: Three factors were identified: stigma, isolation/depression, and glorification/normalization. Each factor had high internal consistency and strong concurrent validity with the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire. More than 25% of respondents agreed that people who suicided were “weak,” “reckless,” or “selfish.” Respondents who were female, who had a psychology degree, or who spoke only English at home were less stigmatizing. A 16-item version of the scale also demonstrated robust psychometric properties. Conclusions: The SOSS is the first attitudes scale designed to directly measure the stigma of suicide in the community. Results suggest that psychoeducation may successfully reduce stigma.

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Instrumental and Ideological Union Commitment: Longitudinal Assessment of Construct Validity

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027//1015-5759.17.2.98 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 98-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anders Sjöberg ◽

Magnus Sverke

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Strong Support ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Measurement Model ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Longitudinal Assessment ◽

Union Commitment ◽

Union Participation

Summary: Previous research has identified instrumentality and ideology as important aspects of member attachment to labor unions. The present study evaluated the construct validity of a scale designed to reflect the two dimensions of instrumental and ideological union commitment using a sample of 1170 Swedish blue-collar union members. Longitudinal data were used to test seven propositions referring to the dimensionality, internal consistency reliability, and temporal stability of the scale as well as postulated group differences in union participation to which the scale should be sensitive. Support for the hypothesized factor structure of the scale and for adequate reliabilities of the dimensions was obtained and was also replicated 18 months later. Tests for equality of measurement model parameters and test-retest correlations indicated support for the temporal stability of the scale. In addition, the results were consistent with most of the predicted differences between groups characterized by different patterns of change/stability in union participation status. The study provides strong support for the construct validity of the scale and indicates that it can be used in future theory testing on instrumental and ideological union commitment.

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Assessing Personality With Multi-Descriptor Items

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000368 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 117-125

Author(s):

Johannes Schult ◽

Rebecca Schneider ◽

Jörn R. Sparfeldt

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Construct Validity ◽

Big Five ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Personality Inventory ◽

The Other ◽

Short Version ◽

Big Five Inventory ◽

Personality Inventories

Abstract. The need for efficient personality inventories has led to the wide use of short instruments. The corresponding items often contain multiple, potentially conflicting descriptors within one item. In Study 1 ( N = 198 university students), the reliability and validity of the TIPI (Ten-Item Personality Inventory) was compared with the reliability and validity of a modified TIPI based on items that rephrased each two-descriptor item into two single-descriptor items. In Study 2 ( N = 268 university students), we administered the BFI-10 (Big Five Inventory short version) and a similarly modified version of the BFI-10 without two-descriptor items. In both studies, reliability and construct validity values occasionally improved for separated multi-descriptor items. The inventories with multi-descriptor items showed shortcomings in some factors of the TIPI and the BFI-10. However, the other scales worked comparably well in the original and modified inventories. The limitations of short personality inventories with multi-descriptor items are discussed.

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Mindfulness or Mindlessness?

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000045 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 59-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Volkmar Höfling ◽

Helfried Moosbrugger ◽

Karin Schermelleh-Engel ◽

Thomas Heidenreich

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Model Fit ◽

Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Mindful Attention ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Item Wording ◽

Method Effects

The 15 items of the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003 ) are negatively worded and assumed to assess mindfulness. However, there are indications of differences between the original MAAS and a version with the positively rephrased MAAS items (“mirror items”). The present study examines whether the mindfulness facet “mindful attention and awareness” (MAA) can be measured with both positively and negatively worded items if we take method effects due to item wording into account. To this end, the 15 negatively worded items of the MAAS and additionally 13 positively rephrased items were assessed (N = 602). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) models with and without regard to method effects were carried out and evaluated by means of model fit. As a result, the positively and negatively worded items should be seen as different methods that influence the construct validity of mindfulness. Furthermore, a modified version of the MAAS (MAAS-Short) with five negatively worded items (taken from the MAAS) and five positively worded items (“mirror items”) was introduced as an alternative to assess MAA. The MAAS-Short appears superior to the original MAAS. The results and the limitations of the present study are discussed.

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Construction and Validation of a Short Adjectives Checklist to Measure Big Five (SACBIF)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.12.1.33 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Marco Perugini ◽

Luigi Leone

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Big Five ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Selection Procedure ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

Personality Dimensions

The aim of this contribution is to present a new short adjective-based measure of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality, the Short Adjectives Checklist of BIg Five (SACBIF). We present the various steps of the construction and the validation of this instrument. First, 50 adjectives were selected with a selection procedure, the “Lining Up Technique” (LUT), specifically used to identify the best factorial markers of the FFM. Then, the factorial structure and the psychometric properties of the SACBIF were investigated. Finally, the SACBIF factorial structure was correlated with some main measures of the FFM to establish its construct validity and with some other personality dimensions to investigate how well these dimensions could be represented in the SACBIF factorial space.

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