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Construct validity of two heterosocial perception skill measures for assessing rape proclivity.

Rape-supportive attitudes and self-reported rape proclivity (using a measure by Malamuth, Haber, & Feshbach, 1980) were negatively correlated with decoding accuracy of women's negative cues (measured by the TRAC-D; McDonel, McFall, Schlundt, & Levenson, 1985) in an unselected sample of male college students. Better decoders of negative female cues on the TRAC-D, as well as subjects expressing fewer rape-supportive beliefs and less rape proclivity, were more conservative in their estimates of a man's justification in continuing to make sexual advances in the face of a woman's negative cues on the Heterosocial Perception Survey (HPS; McDonel, 1986). Ability to decode men's interpersonal cues was not correlated with responses on the HPS or rape attitude and proclivity measures, suggesting that specific rather than global decoding deficits were useful predictors of rape correlates. These results support the construct validity of the two social perception measures, the TRAC-D, and the HPS, as measures of rape proclivity.

Adult↗

Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function: construct validity and correlation with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.

The Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function (Melbourne Assessment) is an evaluation tool that objectively measures upper-extremity function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study investigates how well performance on the Melbourne Assessment relates to the child's actual performance in functional tasks. Eighteen children with CP (5 to 14 years of age; nine males, nine females) were assessed using the Melbourne Assessment and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Five children had spastic quadriplegia, eight had spastic diplegia, two had spastic hemiplegia and diplegia, two had athetosis, and one had hypotonic quadriplegia with mobile ventilator dependence. Children's performances were statistically correlated using Spearman's rho to establish the relation between these tools. Very high correlation coefficients were calculated between the Melbourne Assessment and self-care (0.939) and mobility domains (0.783) of the PEDI and the overall functional skills section of the PEDI (0.718). The Melbourne Assessment demonstrates excellent construct validity for upper limb functioning.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Factor analysis and construct validity of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.

Three studies are reported which provide evidence for the validity of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Factor analysis of the NPI in Study 1 revealed four factors which were labelled: Exploitativeness/Entitlement, Leadership/Authority, Superiority/Arrogance, and Self-absorption/Self-admiration. In Study 2, scores on the NPI were correlated with basic dimensions of personality, and with relevant self-variables. Narcissism scores were positively related to dominance, exhibitionism, extraversion, self-esteem, and self-monitoring, among others; and negatively related to abasement, deference, and social anxiety, among others. Correlations between the NPI factors and personality variables are also examined. In Study 3, peer ratings of narcissism were obtained and it was found that these were strongly related to scores on the NPI. Taken together, the three studies provide considerable evidence for the construct validity of the NPI, and avenues for future research are suggested.

Journal Article↗

Translation and performance of the Norwegian SF-36 Health Survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. I. Data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability, and construct validity.

The SF-36 was translated into Norwegian following the procedures developed by the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project. To test for the appropriateness of the Norwegian Version 1.1 of the SF-36 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 1552 RA patients were mailed the form. Psychometric methods used in previous U.S. and Swedish studies were replicated. The response rate was 66%. The sample (mean age 62 years, mean disease duration 13 years) was over-represented by females (79%). Totally, 74% of the questionnaires were complete. Missing value rates per item ranged from 0.4% to 9.0% (mean 4.2%). In the Role-Emotional scale, all three items had missing value rates above average and higher than reported in the U.S. and Swedish studies. Tests of scaling assumptions confirmed the hypothesized structure of the questionnaire, but results were suboptimal in the General Health scale. In all scales the Cronbach's alphas exceeded the 0.70 standard for group comparisons. In the Physical Functioning scale, Cronbach's alpha exceeded the 0.90 standard for individual comparisons. There was good evidence for the construct validity of the questionnaire. Generally, the Norwegian SF-36 version 1.1 distributed to RA patients held the psychometric properties found in other countries and in normal populations. The translations of items in the General Health and Role-Emotional scales were reassessed. Minor deficiencies were detected and changed (SF-36 Norwegian Version 1.2).

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Construct validation of behavioral indices of isolation stress and inflammatory nociception in young domestic fowl.

Isolation from conspecifics can elicit a variety of behavioral responses in young domestic fowl that include increased vocalizations (VOC), ventral recumbency posturing (VRP), hypoalgesia, and hyperthermia. During tests of acute inflammatory nociception, chicks not only display several pain-related behaviors (i.e., footpecks and lifts), but also VOC and VRP. However, systematic evaluation of whether these behaviors reflect converging indices of stress and nociception remains to be conducted. In two separate experiments, 7-day-old chicks received intraplantar formalin (0.05%) or saline (0.05 ml) and were placed in sound-attenuating chambers with or without two conspecifics for a 3 min observation period. The following measures were recorded: VOC, footlift frequency (LFT), and duration (DUR, Experiment 2 only), pecks (PKS), ventral recumbency latency (VRL), body temperature (BTMP), and body weight (WGT). Principal component analyses revealed the presence of two oblique and nonmonotonically related components, one consisting of pain-related measures (i.e., LFT, DUR, and PKS) and the other consisting of stress-related measures (VOC, VRL, and BTMP). A third component, consisting of BTMP and WGT ostensibly reflects maturational variability in thermoregulatory capability. These findings support the construct validity of these behavioral indices of isolation stress and inflammatory nociception and are consistent with the notion of stress effects on nociceptive processing.

Animals↗

The Swedish SF-36 Health Survey--I. Evaluation of data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability and construct validity across general populations in Sweden.

We document the applicability of the SF-36 Health Survey, which was translated into Swedish using methods later adopted by the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project procedures. To test its appropriateness for use in Sweden, it was administered through mail-out/mail-back questionnaires in seven general population studies with an average response rate of 68%. The 8930 respondents varied by gender (48.2% men), age (range 15-93 years, mean age 42.7), marital status, education, socio-economic status, and geographical area. Psychometric methods used in the evaluation of the SF-36 in the U.S. were replicated. Over 90% of respondents had complete items for each of the eight SF-36 scales, although more missing data were observed for subjects 75 years and over. Scale scores could be computed for the vast majority of respondents (95% and over); slightly fewer in the oldest subgroup. Item-internal consistency was consistently high across socio-demographic subgroups and the eight scales. Most reliability estimates exceeded the 0.80 level. The highest reliability was observed for the Bodily Pain Scale where all subgroups met the 0.90 level recommended for individual comparisons; coefficients at or above 0.90 were also observed in most subgroups for the Physical Functioning Scale. Tests of scaling assumptions including hypothesized item groupings, which reflect the construct validity of scales, were consistently favorable across subgroups, although lower rates were noted in the oldest age group. In conclusion, these studies have yielded empirical evidence supporting the feasibility of a non-English language reproduction of the SF-36 Health Survey. The Swedish SF-36 is ready for further evaluation.

Adolescent↗

Construct validation in adolescents of the brief current form of the Parental Bonding Instrument.

We have reported elsewhere the development of a brief version of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which we have called the Parental Bonding Instrument-Brief Current form (PBI-BC), for use in survey research in adolescent samples. It was shown in that report that PBI-BC retained the factor structure of the original instrument. The structure remained stable in adolescents' ratings of their mothers and their fathers. Given the evidence of a relationship between the dimensions from the original scale and psychopathology, it was expected that the PBI-BC would be similarly related to measures of psychopathology, namely, that there would be a set of positive correlations between the perceived parental bonding styles of high control and low autonomy-giving and measures of pathology, with a negative relationship between pathology and perceived parental styles of high care and low rejection. In addition, the present study explored the relationships between perceived parental styles and bipolar positive and negative self-concept measures, with the expectations that high control and low autonomy would be associated with more negative self-concept and that high care and low rejection would be associated with more positive self-concept. The results generally confirmed these expectations, suggesting that the brief instrument has adequate construct validity and would be particularly useful as a brief index in studies of adolescents.

Acculturation↗

Construct validation of the ProMIS simulator using a novel laparoscopic suturing task.

BACKGROUND: The use of simulation for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) skills training has many advantages over current traditional methods. One advantage of simulation is that it enables an objective assessment of technical performance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ProMIS augmented reality simulator could objectively distinguish between levels of performance skills on a complex laparoscopic suturing task. METHODS: Ten subjects--five laparoscopic experts and five laparoscopic novices--were assessed for baseline perceptual, visio-spatial, and psychomotor abilities using validated tests. After three trials of a novel laparoscopic suturing task were performed on the simulator, measures for time, smoothness of movement, and path distance were analyzed for each trial. Accuracy and errors were evaluated separately by two blinded reviewers to an interrater reliability of >0.8. Comparisons of mean performance measures were made between the two groups using a Mann-Whitney U test. Internal consistency of ProMIS measures was assessed with coefficient alpha. RESULTS: The psychomotor performance of the experts was superior at baseline assessment (p < 0.001). On the laparoscopic suturing task, the experts performed significantly better than the novices across all three trials (p < 0.001). They performed the tasks between three and four times faster (p < 0.0001), had three times shorter instrument path length (p < 0.0001), and had four times greater smoothness of instrument movement (p < 0.009). Experts also showed greater consistency in their performance, as demonstrated by SDs across all measures, which were four times smaller than the novice group. Observed internal consistency of ProMIS measures was high (alpha = 0.95, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of construct validation efforts of the ProMIS simulator show that it can distinguish between experts and novices and has promising psychometric properties. The attractive feature of ProMIS is that a wide variety of MIS tasks can be used to train and assess technical skills.

Clinical Competence↗

The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS): construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the PANAS (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988b) and provide normative data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and correlational. METHOD: The PANAS was administered to a non-clinical sample, broadly representative of the general adult UK population (N = 1,003). Competing models of the latent structure of the PANAS were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Regression and correlational analysis were used to determine the influence of demographic variables on PANAS scores as well as the relationship between the PANAS with measures of depression and anxiety (the HADS and the DASS). RESULTS: The best-fitting model (robust comparative fit index = .94) of the latent structure of the PANAS consisted of two correlated factors corresponding to the PA and NA scales, and permitted correlated error between items drawn from the same mood subcategories (Zevon & Tellegen, 1982). Demographic variables had only very modest influences on PANAS scores and the PANAS exhibited measurement invariance across demographic subgroups. The reliability of the PANAS was high, and the pattern of relationships between the PANAS and the DASS and HADS were consistent with tripartite theory. CONCLUSION: The PANAS is a reliable and valid measure of the constructs it was intended to assess, although the hypothesis of complete independence between PA and NA must be rejected. The utility of this measure is enhanced by the provision of large-scale normative data.

Adolescent↗

[Burned-out or depressive? An empirical study regarding the construct validity of burnout in contrast to depression].

Our study tested the discriminant validity of burnout in contrast to depression using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI, Maslach u. Jackson 1986) and the Allgemeine Depressionsskala (ADS, Hautzinger u. Bailer 1993). Furthermore the relationships between burnout and depression to social support, occupational and health variables were examined. Pre-school teachers (n = 101), physician-assistants (n = 81) and their intimates were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Spearman-correlations and factor analysis were conducted with SPSS. The results indicate validity for the burnout construct.

Adult↗

Construct validity of the animal latent inhibition model of selective attention deficits in schizophrenia.

Latent inhibition (LI) is demonstrated when a previously unattended/inconsequential stimulus is less effective in a new learning situation than a novel stimulus. In rats and humans, LI is reduced by dopamine agonists and increased by dopamine antagonists. In addition, LI is attenuated in actively psychotic schizophrenia patients, thus conferring strong predictive validity to the animal LI preparation for schizophrenia. However, the validity of the attentional construct in the LI model of schizophrenia dysfunction depends on confirming two assumptions: that animal and human LI share a common process, and that the process is related to selective attention. Evidence to support both assumptions is presented, followed by a description of a conditioned attention theory that emphasizes the role of initial levels of attention elicited by repeated relevant and irrelevant stimuli, and the differences between these levels in schizophrenia and normal groups.

Animals↗

Construct validity of the dependence syndrome as measured by DSM-IV for different psychoactive substances.

The Diagnosis of Drug Dependence in the Official Psychiatric Nomenclatures (DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and ICD 10) are based on the Drug Dependence Syndrome construct. Although the validity and utility of the dependence syndrome has been widely documented for alcohol, the generalizability of the dependence syndrome to other psychoactive substances is still not clear. Thus, this article examines the construct validity of the drug dependence syndrome, as measured by diagnostic criteria for DSM-IV, using both internal consistency analyses and confirmatory factor analyses. Data were obtained from non-mutually exclusive groups of abusers for five drugs (alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, opioids, sedatives, stimulants) drawn from a pool of 521 subjects obtained from drug treatment, general psychiatric and community samples. As predicted by the theory, drug dependence items were found to be unidimensional and factorially distinct from measures of the consequences of substance abuse (e.g. legal problems) for all drug groups. Moreover, the drug dependence items yielded internally consistent scales that produced a distribution of scores reflecting a continuum from low to high severity of abuse for all drugs.

Adolescent↗

Construct validity of the Chinese version of the Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation Questionnaire (PRWE-Hong Kong Version).

With increasing economic globalization, including health care, it is important to use standardized outcome measures applicable to a broad spectrum of patients in a wide array of countries. The purpose of this study was to verify construct and content validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation Questionnaire (PRWE-Hong Kong version). The PRWE was translated into Chinese, and face validity was established by inviting experts and patients to participate in the panel review of the questionnaire. A correlation field study was performed using a convenience sample of 47 patients with wrist injuries. Patients were assessed at baseline and six weeks after the initial measurement. The following measures were taken: the Chinese version of the PRWE and the Medical Outcome Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, active wrist range of motion, grip strength, and the Jebsen Hand Function Test. Statistical analysis consisted of Pearson correlation coefficients (convergent validity), factor analysis (content validity), paired t-test (convergent validity), and the Cronbach alpha (internal consistency). Clinically relevant correlations existed between "Pain at rest" and the VAS "resting pain" (r=0.785, p<0.0001) as well as between "Pain on repeated wrist movement" and the VAS "exertion pain" (r=0.872, p<0.0001). The "Physical Component Summary" of the SF-36 was found significantly correlated with the PRWE function subset total score (r=-0.618, p<0.0001), and the PRWE total score (r=-0.645, p<0.0001). The specific function subset score also correlated with the wrist flexion range (r=-0.308, p<0.0001) and the grip strength (r=-0.488, p=0.035). Two factors were found that accounted for 61% of the variance. The Cronbach alpha coefficients ranged from 0.7805 to 0.9502, indicating that the internal consistency of the questionnaire items was sound and reliable. Positive correlations between the wrist ranges of motion (ROM) and the specific function subset score showed that the function subset measured dimensions related to wrist-specific performance in activities of daily living. Factor analysis results supported the construct validity of the PRWE-Hong Kong version in wrist-injured patients. Internal consistency testing results suggested that item consistency within subset items was good and persisted over time. In conclusion, the Chinese version of the PRWE is a reliable and valid self-rated tool in measuring treatment outcome. It supplements traditional objective clinical measures and is potentially applicable in Hong Kong clinical settings.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Lysholm knee score and Tegner activity scale for patients with meniscal injury of the knee.

BACKGROUND: A torn meniscus is one of the most common indications for knee surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Lysholm knee score and the Tegner activity scale when used for patients with a meniscal injury of the knee. METHODS: Test-retest reliability, content validity, criterion validity, construct validity, and responsiveness to change were determined for the Lysholm score and the Tegner activity scale. Test-retest reliability was measured in a group of 122 patients at least two years after they had undergone surgery for a meniscal lesion. This group completed a follow-up form and then completed it again within four weeks. The other tests were performed in a group of 191 patients who had only a meniscal lesion at the time of the surgery and a group of 477 patients who had a meniscal lesion and other intra-articular lesions. RESULTS: The overall Lysholm score showed acceptable test-retest reliability, floor and ceiling effects, criterion validity, construct validity, and responsiveness to change. There were unacceptable ceiling effects (>30%) for the Lysholm domains of limp, instability, support, and locking. The Tegner activity scale showed acceptable test-retest reliability, floor and ceiling effects, criterion validity, construct validity, and responsiveness to change. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the Lysholm knee score and the Tegner activity scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric performances as outcome measures for patients with a meniscal injury of the knee. Some domains of the Lysholm score showed suboptimal performance, and the Tegner scale had only a moderate effect size. Psychometric testing of other condition-specific knee instruments for patients with a meniscal lesion of the knee would be helpful to allow comparison of the properties of the various knee instruments.

Humans↗

Construct validity of self-reported historical physical activity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the construct-related validity of self-reported historical walking, running, and jogging (WRJ) activity on the basis of data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (Dallas, Texas). A total of 4,100 men and 963 women underwent at least one medical examination between 1976 and 1985 and completed a follow-up questionnaire in 1986. Levels of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides, resting systolic blood pressure, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)), and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured at the time of the medical examination. The follow-up questionnaire assessed WRJ and other strenuous activities for each year from 1976 through 1985. Data analysis included Spearman and partial correlations, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and t tests. Results indicated significant correlations between recalled WRJ and treadmill times for each year throughout the 10-year period (r = 0.40-0.61). Participants were classified as historically either sufficiently physically active to receive a health benefit or insufficiently active for a health benefit. Engaging in sufficient levels of historical WRJ was associated with higher treadmill times and lower body mass indices for men and women and lower triglyceride levels for men. Self-reported historical WRJ can be assessed with reasonable validity in comparison with measured treadmill performance, with no decay in accuracy of reporting for up to 10 years in the past.

Adolescent↗

Personality trait inferences about organizations: development of a measure and assessment of construct validity.

The authors conducted 4 studies to construct a multidimensional measure of perceptions of organization personality. Results of the first 2 studies suggest that (a) 5 broad factors are sufficient to capture the structure of organization personality perceptions, (b) real-world organizations differ on personality profiles, and (c) personality trait inferences are related to organizational attraction. Results of a 3rd study suggest that personality trait inferences assessed in 1 sample are related lo ratings of organizational attractiveness by a 2nd sample. Finally, results of a 4th study suggest that the measure is sensitive to experimental manipulations of organizational descriptions. Implications and suggestions for the use of this measure in future research are discussed.

Attitude↗

[Construct validity of some episodic memory tests for psychogeriatric patients].

Episodic memory is the conscious recollection of personal experiences. In clinical practice several episodic memory tests are used, but their validity as measures of an episodic memory construct is not clear. The sensitivity and specificity of variables hypothesized to represent a distinct psychological construct is established by a pattern of convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyse the correlations between four episodic memory tests: a standardized orientation questionnaire, free recall, and two delayed recognition memory tests. The episodic memory construct was contrasted with an executive functioning construct, measured by three variables: two tasks of semantic word fluency and the Expanded Mental Control Test. The measures were taken from 813 consecutive visitors of a psychogeriatric day care centre. As a set the four indicators of episodic memory provided reliable measurement of the construct. The same was true for the three measures of the executive functioning construct. However, the strong correlation (0.89) between the two constructs implies a lack of discriminant validity and suggests that processes of executive control contribute to the successful performance on episodic memory tasks.

Aged↗