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Dale Alexander

Publications and source records attributed to Dale Alexander.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI-X): concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity with multiple measures.

This study evaluates the concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity between the MSI-X and five other instruments completed by 107 adults. Pearson correlation analysis with follow-up t-tests found concurrent validity between the MSI-X, Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20), five Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-3) subscales, a Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) IV-TR Guided Marijuana Inventory, and two Addiction Severity Index variables. As evidence of MSI-X discriminant validity, no correlations were found with three alcohol measures. Convergent validity, determined by t-test associations between MSI-X total problems with SASSI-3 substance dependence scores, supported the MSI-X > or =6 scoring cutoff. Overall, the findings support MSI-X concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

A marijuana screening inventory (experimental version): description and preliminary psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVE: Marijuana use prevalence, culturally confusing messages about marijuana risks, assessment dilemmas, and current screening inadequacies justify developing a marijuana specific screening inventory for assessment purposes. This article describes the Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI-X) and its preliminary psychometric reliability, factor analyses, and factor structure. METHOD: The MSI-X was administered to a community sample of 420 Army reservists participating in substance abuse educational classes. Participants responded anonymously to the 39-item MSI-X. SPSS analyses were performed with 408 returned MSI-Xs from a sample of 49% males and 40% females. RESULTS: Analyses revealed 61% smoked marijuana during their lifetime. Reliability of the MSI-X was .89. Exploratory factor analyses of 31 scored items by principal components and varimax rotation supported a nine-factor structure, explaining 65.8% of the variance, with all items loading > or = .30. Within the sample, 7.84% scored > or = 7 suggesting "at risk" with marijuana; 6.12% scored 4 to 6 "suggestive of risk"; 20.83% scored 1 to 3 reflecting "normal or experimental" use; and 65.4% scored 0 suggesting "no problem." CONCLUSIONS: The reliability, variance explained, factor-loading matrix of the nine-factor MSI-X structure and clinically predetermined scoring ranges appear useful for screening marijuana use patterns. Factor-based subscales were derived from the factor-loading matrix and described as a base for future confirmatory factor analysis. Although the MSI-X version needs psychometric strengthening, it shows potential as a marijuana-specific screening inventory for use in general mental health and primary care settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A pilot study using the group environment scale to evaluate first-year resident support groups.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Resident support groups are not universally accepted nor without controversy. Existing descriptive studies suggest the need for better evaluation methods. This study tests a quantitative method for assessing resident support groups using a standardized questionnaire to evaluate changes occurring during support group participation. METHODS: The Group Environment Scale (GES) was used to quantitatively assess premeasures and postmeasures of group functioning for two combined support groups. RESULTS: After analyzing the combined group's premeasures and postmeasures on 10 GES subscales, paired t tests revealed "expressiveness," "self discovery," and "anger and aggression " significantly increased, while "order and organization " decreased. The GES profile suggests that these intern support groups significantly promoted expression of feelings, self disclosure, and self-reflection about personal and professional problems and tolerance of anger in an environment that becomes significantly less formal and structured with strong leader support but low leader control. CONCLUSIONS: The GES is a useful tool for assessing intern support groups. This pilot study provides a quantitative baseline assessment of intern support groups for future comparisons.

Adult↗