To Reverse Item Orientation or Not to Reverse Item Orientation, That Is the Question

To investigate the effect of using negatively oriented items, we wrote semantic reversals of the items in the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the General Belongingness Scale and used them to create four experimental conditions. Participants ( N = 2,019) were recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Data were assessed for dimensionality, item functioning, instrument properties, and associations with other variables. Regarding dimensionality, although a two-factor model (positively vs. negatively oriented factors) exhibits better fit than a unidimensional model across all conditions, bifactor indices were used to argue that a unidimensional interpretation of the data can be employed. With respect to item functioning, factor loadings were found to be nearly invariant across conditions, but thresholds were not. Concerning instrument properties, inclusion of negatively oriented items results in lower mean scores and higher score variances. Instruments with both positively and negatively oriented items demonstrated lower reliability estimates than those with only one orientation. For associations with other variables, path coefficients in a model where loneliness mediates the effects of belongingness on life satisfaction and self-esteem were found to vary across conditions. Findings suggest that negatively oriented items have minor impact on instrument quality, but influence measurement model and path coefficients.

Sense of Coherence and Five-Factor Approach to Personality

In the present study we analyzed the conceptual relationship of sense of coherence (SOC) to the five-factor model of personality (FFM; i.e., Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness). Participants (109 men, 114 women) were drawn from the ongoing Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS); which was started when the participants were 8 or 9-years old (in 1968): Data gathered at age 42 were used in this study. SOC was measured by the 13-item Orientation to Life Questionnaire ( Antonovsky, 1987 ) and FFM personality traits with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1989 ). The results obtained from structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that a high SOC was strongly associated with Neuroticism (-.85). In addition, SOC showed modest positive associations with Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. On the basis of the present results, it seems reasonable to assume that SOC and reversed Neuroticism (i.e., emotional stability) are closely related constructs at the conceptual, theoretical, and empirical levels.

The relationship between sense of coherence and goal setting

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of Sense of Coherence and Goal Setting. A sample of 80 management consultants participated in the study. Confirmatory reliabilities of the dimensions used in the Goal Setting Questionnaire (independent variable) and Sense of Coherence 29 item Orientation to Life Questionnaire (dependent variable), ranged from 0,54 to 0,97. A canonical correlation of 0,569 (DF = 39; p = 0,021) was obtained between the dimensions of these two questionnaires. Opsomming Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die verband tussen die dimensies van Koherensiesin en Doelstelling vas te stel. ’n Steekproef van 80 bestuurskonsultante het aan die studie deelgeneem. Bevestigende betroubaarhede van die dimensies van die Doelstellingsvraelys (onafhanklike veranderlike) en die 29 item Lewensoriëntasievraelys (afhanklike veranderlike), het gewissel van 0,54 tot 0,97. ’n Kanoniese korrelasie van 0,569 (gv = 39; p = 0,021) is verkry tussen die dimensies van die twee vraelyste.

Neuroticism and Sense of Coherence

The relationship of scores on sense of coherence with measures of personality traits was assessed using the 29-item Orientation to Life Questionnaire and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. In one group of 95 mixed-sex students scores on Neuroticism bore a highly negative relationship with scores on sense of coherence. Findings support the current literature that health questionnaires may indirectly measure Neuroticism and that personality variables play an important role in general health.

Individual Shifts and the Group-Shift Phenomenon

The effect of group composition on individual decisions was investigated by having nine 3-man groups discuss caution-oriented life dilemma items. Results indicated: (1) that there are individual changes in decision which are not reflected in an over-all group change; (2) stability of decisions is influenced by item orientation; (3) that majority position exerts disproportionate influence on group decisions; (4) that homogeneous groups do not shift; and (5) that conformity, compromise and attitude change effects are evident. Results were discussed in terms of their relevance to a number of theories.