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An external construct validity study of Rorschach personality variables.

This study examined (a) hypothesized relationships between Rorschach variables and self-report test measures relating to nominally similar aspects of personality functioning and (b) interrelationships among Rorschach variables. Sixty-two undergraduates were administered the Rorschach, Barron Ego Strength Scale, Kaplan Self-Derogation Scale, Eagly Self-Esteem Scale, Multiple Affective Adjective Checklist (MAACL), Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and the Rotter Locus of Control Scale. Only a few of the predictions received confirmation: inanimate movement (m) correlated, as expected, with MAACL anxiety and hostility, the egocentricity index (3r + 2)/R (R = total responses) correlated significantly with self-esteem, and human movement with minus form level (M-) correlated (inversely) with ego strength. Among the unpredicted findings were some that appear inconsistent with standard Rorschach interpretation. Rorschach variables human movement (M), and experience actual (EA), generally interpreted as reflecting coping resources, related significantly with self-report measures of poor coping and of dysphoric affect. In general, the Rorschach appears better at identifying weaknesses in the ego rather than strengths.

Adolescent

Construct validity of the marital communication inventory.

The Marital Communication Inventory (MCI) is an extremely popular self-report measure of marital communication that has been used in over 65 dissertations and empirical articles since 1970, including several recent clinical reports that used the MCI as a principal outcome measure. However, contrary to its treatment in the clinical literature as a unidimensional, valid measure of treatment outcome, the MCI appears to be a multidimensional instrument, whose primary dimension may not be a specific style or method of communication. Using a canonical correlation analysis of data from over 200 midwestern wives, we compared MCI subscales with subscales from an abbreviated version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (RI). Results supported the hypothesis that the primary dimension of the MCI is more closely associated with positive regard than with the more specific communication dimensions of either empathy or congruence as measured by the RI. Future clinical research in the improvement of marital communication should use the MCI in a much more careful way in order to provide the most valid outcome data.

Adolescent

Construct validity in the Trail Making Test: what makes Part B harder?

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is primarily a test of motor speed and visual attention. In Trail Making, Part A, the subject's task is to quickly draw lines on a page connecting 25 consecutive numbers. In Part B, the subject must draw the lines alternating between numbers and letters. To determine what makes Part B harder than Part A, variations of the standard Trail Making Test were assessed. Forty college students (20 male, 20 female) were given four forms of the Trail Making Test. The results show that Trail Making, Part B with just numbers took longer to complete than the standard Part A with numbers. Part B is 56 cm longer and has more visually interfering stimuli than Part A. These results indicate that Part B is more difficult than Part A not only because it is a more difficult cognitive task, but also because of its increased demands in motor speed and visual search.

Adolescent

Construct validity of various verbal and visual memory tests.

Factor analysis was conducted on attention, information processing, verbal and visual memory scores of 112 patients. Factor structure did not vary as a function of age. The Expanded Paired Associates Test, Verbal Selective Reminding Test, Continuous Recognition Memory Test, and Continuous Visual Memory Test defined a general memory factor. The PASAT, WMS Mental Control, and WAIS-R Digit Span defined an attention/information processing factor. Immediate Visual Reproduction (VR) loaded primarily on visual/nonverbal intelligence, whereas delayed VR loaded primarily with the memory factor. The Trail Making Test, Part B was more closely associated with visual/nonverbal intelligence than with attention/information processing. Serial Digit Learning was more closely associated with attention/information processing than with general memory.

Adolescent

The reliability and construct validity of the RAQoL: a rheumatoid arthritis-specific quality of life instrument.

The present study was designed to test the psychometric properties of the RAQoL, a rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific quality of life (QoL) instrument. All stages of the development were conducted simultaneously in The Netherlands and the UK. The content of the draft measure was derived from qualitative interviews with RA patients in both countries. The final version of the RAQoL has 30 items with a 'yes'/'no' response format and takes approximately 6 min to complete. Both language versions have high internal consistency and test-retest reliability (> 0.9), and good sensitivity to discriminate between groups with various disease activity and severity. Given the excellent psychometric properties of the new instrument, it will prove to be a valuable tool for assessing quality of life in clinical trials and for monitoring patients in routine clinical practice.

Adult

The NEECHAM Confusion Scale: construction, validation, and clinical testing.

This article reports the development of the NEECHAM Confusion Scale for rapid and unobtrusive assessment and monitoring of acute confusion. The scale was tested in two samples (N = 168 and 258, respectively) of elderly patients hospitalized for acute medical illness. Internal consistency and interrater reliability of the instrument were found to be high. The NEECHAM correlated well with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the sum of DSM-III-R positive items. Factor analyses identified and confirmed cognitive/behavioral and physiological domains. The NEECHAM provides a valid and reliable bedside assessment of acute confusion, particularly at its onset and in patients with "quiet" manifestations.

Confusion

Daily activities of college students and the construct validity of the Jenkins Activity Survey.

To examine the everyday behavioral correlates of Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) scores, 70 college students recorded the nature of their activities for 1 week. Several behavioral differences between individuals classified as Type A and Type B on the basis of JAS scores were observed. These differences were consistent with most definitions of the Type A behavior pattern. Type As spent more time in class, studying, and participating in religious services and less time socializing with friends than Type Bs. Type A individuals were more likely to be fraternity or sorority members and to report higher career aspirations than Type Bs. The degree to which Type As' diligent school-related behavior could be attributed to greater academic demands was examined. It is proposed that the JAS may provide a better index of a personality predisposition to exhibit coronary-prone behavior given the appropriate circumstances than an index of coronary-prone behavior per se.

Achievement

Assessment of female sexual arousal: response specificity and construct validity.

Specificity of vaginal pulse amplitude and vaginal blood volume in reaction to visual sexual stimuli was investigated by comparing responses to sexual, anxiety-inducing, sexually threatening, and neutral film excerpts. Subjective sexual arousal, body sensations, emotional experience, skin conductance, and heart rate were monitored along with the genital measures. Self-report data confirmed the generation of affective states as intended. Results demonstrated response specificity of vaginal vasocongestion to sexual stimuli. In terms of both convergent and divergent validity, vaginal pulse amplitude was the superior genital measure. Skin conductance discriminated among stimuli only to a small degree, whereas heart rate failed to discriminate among stimuli altogether.

Adolescent