One, Few or Many?: An Integrated Framework for Identifying the Items in Measurement Scales

Churchill (1979) proposed a detailed procedure for the development of better multi-item measures that has become popular. Recently, however, many scholars have challenged this dominant paradigm. They argue that, in many marketing contexts where the target construct has a precise and concrete definition, long multi-item measures can be substituted by shorter measures with fewer items, or even single-item measures. This has resulted in the controversy around the relative superiority of single- versus multi-item scales. We review the extant literature to summarise various arguments in favour of (or against) multi-item and singleitem measures, respectively. Moreover, we propose an integrated framework for developing a new scale, reducing long multi-item scales to shorter multi-item measures or to single-item measures, or to expand an existing short (single-item) scale. The significant contributions of this paper to the literature are identified.

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Quick rating of depressed mood in patients with anxiety disorders

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.174.3.266 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 174 (3) ◽

pp. 266-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Nigel McKenzie ◽

Isaac Marks

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Beck Depression Inventory ◽

Depressed Mood ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Single Item ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

Item Scores ◽

Litmus Test ◽

Item Scale

BackgroundRegular assessment of mood is often important for treatment but traditional measures can be time-consuming. A quick ‘litmus test’ is needed.AimsTo test the reliability and validity of a single-item scale for mood.MethodMood was measured repeatedly in 812 patients (258 in-patients, 554 out-patients) being treated in an anxiety disorders unit. Patients had self- and clinician ratings of a single-item depression scale and also rated the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI–21). Their single-item scores were compared with BDI–21 scores and with outcome measures.ResultsThe single-item depression scores correlated 0.71 to 0.78 with the BDI–21 scores. Clinically useful cut-off points were identified. Depression scores at discharge, but not pre-treatment, correlated significantly with improvement in the main problem.ConclusionsThe quick single-item depression scale, whether rated by patient or by clinician, is a reasonable rough guide to mood in anxiety disorders and saves time for the patient and the clinician compared to longer measures.

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Single Rating, Single-Item Scale

Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures ◽

10.1007/978-0-387-78665-0_6651 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 4321-4321

Keyword(s):

Single Item ◽

Item Scale

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Perceived discrimination and psychological distress in nine countries of the former Soviet Union

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764019827982 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 158-168

Author(s):

Andrew Stickley ◽

Hans Oh ◽

Ai Koyanagi ◽

Mall Leinsalu ◽

Zui Narita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Soviet Union ◽

Former Soviet Union ◽

Total Population ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Single Item ◽

Reference Category ◽

Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽

Item Scale

Background: Perceived discrimination has been linked to worse mental health. However, little is known about this association in the countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU). Aim: To address this deficit, this study examined the link between perceived discrimination and psychological distress in nine fSU countries. Methods: Data were analyzed from 18,000 adults aged ⩾18 years obtained during the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) survey undertaken in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine in 2010 and 2011. A single-item measure was used to assess discrimination. Psychological distress was measured with a 12-item scale. Logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis were used to examine associations. Results: After adjusting for all potential confounders, when using none/little discrimination as the reference category, moderate and strong discrimination were associated with significantly increased odds for psychological distress in the total population and in men and women separately with odds ratios ranging from 1.93 to 2.64. Meta-analysis based on country-wise estimates showed that the level of between-country heterogeneity was negligible. Conclusion: Perceived discrimination is associated with psychological distress in countries throughout the fSU. Quantitative and qualitative research is now warranted to determine its specific forms and impact on population health in individual fSU countries.

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An Integrated Framework of Market and Nonmarket Strategies for Demoralized Transition Economies

Journal of East European Management Studies ◽

10.5771/0949-6181-2020-1-84 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 84-104

Author(s):

John H. Humphreys ◽

Dragan Loncar ◽

Guclu Atinc ◽

Mario Hayek ◽

Milorad M. Novicevic

Keyword(s):

Transition Economies ◽

Emerging Economies ◽

Transition Economy ◽

Nonmarket Strategy ◽

Integrated Framework ◽

Extant Literature ◽

Nonmarket Strategies ◽

Alignment Model ◽

Market Strategies ◽

Rapid Transformation

In the extant literature, transition economies are sporadically addressed under the moniker of emerging economies and often only through calls for more contextualized research. Moreover, not all transition economies are emerging, as attempts at rapid transformation have resulted in economic deterioration as well. Yet, we lack models that approach the coordination of market and nonmarket strategies in contexts experiencing ongoing economic malaise. Accordingly, we examined the institutional and market strategies of Frikom, a regional ice cream producer profiting in the demoralized transition economy of Serbia, to identify antecedents to socio-cultural demoralization, elaborate a reconstructed view of nonmarket strategy in a demoralized transition economy, and conceptualize an integrated alignment model for firms competing in demoralized transitional economic environments.

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Single-Item Versus Multiple-Item Measurement Scales: An Empirical Comparison

Educational and Psychological Measurement ◽

10.1177/0013164498058006003 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 898-915 ◽

Cited By ~ 388

Author(s):

Donald G. Gardner ◽

L. L. Cummings ◽

Randall B. Dunham ◽

Jon L. Pierce

Keyword(s):

Empirical Comparison ◽

Measurement Scales ◽

Single Item ◽

Multiple Item

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Measuring Growth Mindset: A Validation of a Three-item Scale and a Single-item Scale in Youth and Adults

10.31234/osf.io/rs43g ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Beatrice Rammstedt ◽

David Joachim Grüning ◽

Clemens M. Lechner

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Growth Mindset ◽

Intellectual Ability ◽

Single Item ◽

Two Samples ◽

Adolescents And Adults ◽

Item Scale

A growth mindset is the belief that personal characteristics, specifically intellectual ability, are malleable and can be developed by investing time and effort. In recent decades, numerous studies have investigated the associations between growth mindset and academic achievement, and large intervention programs have been established to train adolescents to develop a stronger growth mindset. However, methodological research on the adequacy of the measures used to assess growth mindset is scarce. In our study, we conducted one of the first comprehensive assessments of the psychometric properties (especially structural and external validity, reliability, and measurement invariance across age groups) of Dweck’s widely used three-item Growth Mindset Scale in two samples: adolescents (age 14–19 years) and adults (age 20–64 years). Furthermore, we identified and validated a single-item measure to assess growth mindset in research settings with severe time constraints. Our results show that both the short (three-item) and ultra-short (single-item) scales have acceptable psychometric properties. However, associations with sociodemographic characteristics, personality characteristics, and achievement outcomes were generally small in the present samples. Further, we empirically demonstrated the comparability (i.e., measurement invariance) of the scales across adolescents and adults. Our findings can serve as a benchmark for future studies on growth mindset.

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The Visual Analogue Mood Scale: Can a Single-Item Scale Accurately Classify Depressive Mood State?

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1999.85.3f.1238 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 85 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1238-1243 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

William D. Scott Killgore

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Mood State ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Rate Sensitivity ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Affective States ◽

Single Item ◽

Hit Rate ◽

Mood Scale ◽

Item Scale

Visual analogue mood scales provide extremely rapid, single-item assessment of affective states. This study examined discrimination on a single-item visual analogue depression scale between dysphoric or mildly depressed and nondepressed individuals in a sample of 284 college students. The visual analogue mood scale significantly discriminated subjects by mood category and achieved comparable hit rate, sensitivity, and specificity relative to other well validated mood scales.

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