scholarly journals Development and validation of the American Dream Scale: Assessing the petty bourgeois mentality

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Gamst ◽  
Roy Kwon ◽  
Lawrence S. Meyers

The present research developed and validated an instrument, the American Dream Scale (ADS), to measure a small business orientation conceptualized as petty bourgeois mentality. The initial exploratory study, using principal components analysis with promax rotation, was performed on the data from a convenience sample of 349 university students. A total of 17 items of the original 45 prototype items emerged from the analysis to comprise the ADS inventory that represented two factors named Creative Work Potential and Be My Own Boss. A second independent convenience sample of 306 university students provided data for a confirmatory factor analysis supporting the factor structure and an evaluation of a structural model predicting ADS. A third independent convenience sample of 502 US adults provided data for an additional confirmatory factor analysis again supporting the factor structure as well as providing convergent validity evidence to support use of the scale. Implications for future research are discussed in the context of how the ADS may help to elucidate fundamental petty bourgeois attitudes among various strata in the US working class.

Author(s):  
Giulia Bassi ◽  
Adriana Lis ◽  
Tatiana Marci ◽  
Silvia Salcuni

AbstractThe increased smartphone use in adolescence has led clinicians and researchers to carry out in-depth studies on the matter. Adolescents seem to be at risk of smartphone addiction because they are yet to develop self-control in smartphone use. This psychometric study aimed at examining the levels of validity evidence for the Smartphone Addiction Inventory-Italian (SPAI-I) version for adults, among adolescents. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the factor structure of the SPAI-I version for adults among adolescents but not the exploratory factor structure for adults of the original Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI). Convergent validity was assessed by examining the relationship between SPAI-I, self-control, and internalized and externalized problems. A total of 446 Italian adolescents (mean age = 16.04, SD = 1.72, 36.3% males) completed the Self-Restraint Subscale of the Adolescent Self-Consciousness and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires—with a specific focus on the subscales of internalized and externalized problems. Present findings suggested that the SPAI-I version could be used to assess smartphone overuse among adolescents according to a multidimensional perspective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-207
Author(s):  
Tien-Ming Cheng ◽  
Mei-Tsun Chen ◽  
Cheng-Ho Wu

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize a construct of Tour Conductor Playfulness (TCP) and establish a set of reliable and valid measures for TCP. The construct of TCP introduces a new concept in tourism research, while also extending the application of playfulness theory. TCP also can help businesses train employees and serve as a tool for human resource management. Study 1 produced initial items through in-depth interviews and content analysis, and study 2 conducted two sample collections. First, an exploratory factor analysis was performed by investigating 253 tour conductors, and four factors were identified: playful guiding, enthusiastic guiding, creative guiding, and engaged guiding. Second, this scale was validated with a new sample of 396 tour conductors. We verified the reliability of the TCP scale through confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminant validity to finally obtain 23 items. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.


Affilia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday B. Fakunmoju ◽  
Tina Abrefa-Gyan ◽  
Ntandoyenkosi Maphosa

Research scales developed in one society are often validated in another society to determine the factor structure and measurement equivalence of the scales. Using a convenience sample of 378 respondents from two cross-sectional studies, the present analyses examined confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and gender invariance in the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance (IRMA) Scale in Nigeria. Specifically, the analyses examined whether the scale holds similar factor structure, whether the latent means can be compared, and whether respondents interpreted items similarly or ascribed the same meaning to them across gender. Based on the analyses, CFA results validated the hypothesized multidimensional four-factor structure of IRMA, namely, “she asked for it,” “he didn’t mean to,” “it wasn’t really rape,” and “she lied.” Similarly, the IRMA measurement was invariant (partial scalar invariance) across gender, suggesting that men and women interpreted IRMA’s items and constructs similarly. Results of an independent-samples t test suggested that women were more likely than men to reject the myth that female victim of rape “lied.” In general, preliminary findings indicated that IRMA is suitable for research on rape myths in Nigeria. Knowledge generated from its use may enhance understanding of rape myths, rape-supportive behaviors, and rape prevention and victim intervention programs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Wu ◽  
Hoi Yan Cheung

The factor structure of the 30-item Domain Specific Risk Taking Attitude (DOSPERT) scale (Blais & Weber, 2006) was examined with a convenience sample of 205 Chinese undergraduate students from Macao. A comparison of five competing models via confirmatory factor analysis yielded empirical support for the perspective that risk-taking attitude was content-dependent. After removing the items in the Financial subscale of the DOSPERT scale and some post hoc modifications, a reasonably good fit to the four-correlated-factor model was achieved, in concordance with the theoretical framework. However, items in some scales needed further revision to purify their factor structure so that the DOSPERT scale would be a more psychometrically sound measure for investigating one's risk-taking attitudes in different life domains.


2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 990-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Gwi Lee ◽  
Hanna Suh ◽  
Hee-Kyung Lee

This study explored the factor structure of the Korean version of the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, originally developed by Hewitt and colleagues in 2003 with three factors (Perfectionistic Self-promotion, Non-display of Imperfection, and Non-disclosure of Imperfection). In Study 1, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the Korean version with 27 items for 151 Korean college students, but the model fit was poor. Subsequently, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and the results yielded three factors as found in Hewitt, et al., yet with 20 items rather than the original 27 items. This new version had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .88); convergent validity estimate was established with a measure of self-presentation motivation. In Study 2, to support the structural validity of the Korean version, another confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with 203 Korean college students. The model fit was good, but a few amendments were made.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-502
Author(s):  
Axel Baptista ◽  
Charlotte Soumet-Leman ◽  
Arnauld Visinet ◽  
Roland Jouvent

AbstractBackground:The short form of the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) is a brief multi-dimensional measure which explores the metacognitive processes and beliefs about worry and cognition that are central to the vulnerability and maintenance of emotional disorders.Aims:The first aim of the study was to create and validate a French version of the MCQ-30 in a non-clinical and a clinical sample of depressed in-patients.Method:A French adaptation of the MCQ-30 was administered to a sample of 467 individuals from the general population and 73 hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients. Factor structure was assessed using a confirmatory factor analysis on the non-clinical group and a multi-trait–multi-method analysis on the psychiatric group. Criterion validity was explored by comparing the scores of the two samples. Measures of rumination, worry and depression were used to explore convergent validity.Results:Confirmatory factor analysis in the non-clinical sample indicated that the French version of the MCQ-30 has the same factor structure as the MCQ-30’s original five-factor solution. In the clinical sample, the multi-trait–multi-method analysis revealed discrepancies with the original factor structure, and the MCQ-30 and its subscales were less reliable. Our results provide evidence of a convergent validity. The MCQ-30 scores were also able to discriminate between psychiatric and non-clinical samples.Conclusions:Our results show that the French version of the MCQ-30 is a valid instrument for measuring metacognitive beliefs in non-clinical population. Further research is needed to support its use among depressed in-patients.


2020 ◽  
pp. 107780122095215
Author(s):  
Alyssa M. Glace ◽  
Judith G. Zatkin ◽  
Keith L. Kaufman

Measuring attitudes and behaviors associated with sexual consent is crucial to research addressing sexual violence, as lack of consent is a defining feature thereof. This research developed and validated the Process-Based Consent Scale to address concerns associated with missing components of existing consent scales. The factor structure was supported by an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The scale contains three subscales: ongoing consent, communicative sexuality, and subtle coercion. Results indicated good convergent and concurrent validity. Future research should consider using this tool to measure attitudes and behaviors related to sexual consent and coercion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Martins da Silva ◽  
Rosimeire Simprini Padula

Abstract Background The Modified Fresno Test has been used to evaluate the use of the Evidence-Based Physiotherapy (EBP). So far, none of the versions of the Fresno Test were subjected to analysis of the factorial structure. The objective of the study was to describe the exploratory and confirmatory factor structure of the Modified Fresno Test adapted to the Portuguese-Brazilian and analyze the statistical feasibility for the elaboration of a short version. Methods The questionnaire was applied with a convenience sample of 57 physiotherapists, being 36 professionals (13 of these also professors) and 21 students from the last semester of the physiotherapy course. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed by the method of principal components. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed by the method of maximum likelihood. The total score of the answers in the test and retest was evaluated, totalling 228 observations. Reliability was assessed by means of internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results Reliability was satisfactory (α 0.81) for all questions of the instrument. The coefficient α calculated for the corrected item-total showed values higher than 0.20 except for item 9. Preliminary tests for Exploratory Factor Analysis showed acceptable values with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO = 0.80) and Bartlett’s test of sphericity [chi-square (78) = 1149.615, p < 0.001], indicating that the correlations were sufficient for analysis. The analysis revealed the presence of 3 factors (eigenvalues> 1), which explains 60.9% of the instrument’s total variance. In Confirmatory Factor Analysis, none of the indices came close to an acceptable level (≥ 0.90), however, the second model which tested a three-factor structure provided a better fit to the data. From the results of this study the Modified Fresno Test short version was drawn. Conclusion The analysis showed good factor validity and adequate internal consistency for the use of the instrument consisting of 13 questions and 3 factors. This model proved to be better than the original model. The short version consisting of 9 questions may be an appropriate alternative for use in the population of interest.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roosevelt Vilar ◽  
Rafaella de C. R. Araujo ◽  
Gabriel Lins de H. Coelho ◽  
Alex S. M. Grangeiro ◽  
Valdiney V. Gouveia

AbstractThe present research brings psychometric evidences for the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS), aiming at verifying its adequacy for use in the Brazilian context. Participants were 468 university students with mean age of 21.2 years. They completed a survey composed by the URCS, the Basic Values Survey (BSV), and demographic questions. Through Exploratory (Eigenvalue = 6.61) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFI = .937, TLI = .923), the results showed that the same one-factor structure from the original version of the scale was found. These results were also invariant across gender and relationship status (∆SRMR < .03), and presented evidences of internal consistence (α = .94), temporal stability (ICC = .903, p < .001), and convergent validity (rmale = .32, rfemale = .25, p < .001). In conclusion, this measure has shown to be psychometrically adequate for use in Brazil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X2110231
Author(s):  
Robert R. Martinez ◽  
Sejal Parikh Foxx ◽  
Jacob Olsen ◽  
Stephen D. Kennedy

We examined data from a national sample of 917 school counselors to determine the factor structure of the School Counselor STEM Advocacy Survey. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported use of the two-factor model. Survey scores demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity. We discuss differences between key demographics and school counselors.


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