Scale of Unpredictability Beliefs: Reliability and Validity

Experiencing unpredictability in the environment has a variety of negative outcomes. However, these are difficult to ascertain due to the lack of a psychometrically sound measure of unpredictability beliefs. This article summarizes the development of the Scale of Unpredictability Beliefs (SUB), which assesses perceptions about unpredictability in one's life, in other people, and in the world. In Study I, college students (N = 305) responded to 68 potential items as well as other scales. Exploratory factor analysis yielded three internally consistent subscales (Self, People, and World; 16 items total). Higher SUB scores correlated with more childhood family unpredictability, greater likelihood of parental alcohol abuse, stronger causal uncertainty, and lower self-efficacy. In Study II, a confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor solution (N = 186 college students). SUB scores correlated with personality, childhood family unpredictability, and control beliefs. In most instances the SUB predicted family unpredictability and control beliefs beyond existing unpredictability measures. Study III confirmed the factor structure and replicated family unpredictability associations in an adult sample (N = 483). This article provides preliminary support for this new multi-dimensional, self-report assessment of unpredictability beliefs, and ideas for future research are discussed.     

大学生自我怜悯问卷的修订及信效度研究

目的:对Neff编制的自我怜悯量表进行修订和信效度检验。方法:总共对440名大学生进行了问卷预测与正式测验,使用SPSS13.0和LISREL8.70软件对数据进行分析。结果:①修订后的量表包含6个维度、26个条目。②各维度和量表的同质信度在0.64-0.87之间;探索性因素分析表明各条目对所属因子有中度以上的负荷,抽取的6个因子解释了总方差的55.09%。验证性因素分析的拟合优度指数、相对拟合优度指数、非标准化拟合优度指数为0.85-0.94,近似误差均方根为0.059。结论:大学生自我怜悯量表的信效度符合心理测量学要求。     

Validity and Reliability of the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire: Empirical Evidence from an Italian Study

Interpersonal competence is crucial to human life, and poor social functioning is a typical feature of various psychopathological conditions. Given the relevance of the construct, increasing attention has recently been paid to the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ; Buhrmester et al. 1988), a 40-item self-report measuring five domains of interpersonal competence. To provide additional data on the cross-cultural adaptability of the ICQ, we developed an Italian version and investigated its psychometric properties with two independent student samples. Respondents were mostly women (about three quarters), ranging in age from 18 to 57. Study 1 (n?=?408) tested factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity. Study 2 (n?=?59) investigated test-retest reliability. Taken together, the results of both these studies provided support for the cross-cultural applicability of the ICQ, and revealed interesting associations between interpersonal competence and constructs such as well-being, emotion dysregulation and empathy.     

Reliability and Validity of the Spiritual Care-Giving Scale in a Turkish Population

This study aimed to adapt an English version of the survey tool Spiritual Care-Giving Scale for Turkish students and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Spiritual care is a central element of holistic nursing, but is not often made explicit in the theoretical and practical components of preregistration nursing programs. A composite scale will assist in identifying students’ perceptions and issues to be addressed in curricula and practice settings in Turkey. The scale was composed of 35 items and five subscales. Cronbach’s α reliability coefficient was .96, and item–total point correlations were between .37 and .77. In addition, split-half reliability coefficient was .88. The Spiritual Care-Giving Scale was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the multifaceted perspectives of spirituality and spiritual care in practice by students. Further testing of this scale is required with other student populations and clinicians.     

The Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale: Reliability and Validity

Family unpredictability or inconsistency may be responsible, in part, for the detrimental outcomes associated with parental divorce, parental alcoholism, and family poverty. We assessed behavior patterns and regulatory systems in one’s family of origin for the purposes of developing the Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale (Retro-FUS). In the first study (N = 416, 89% Caucasian, 59% female), confirmatory factor analysis indicated a six-factor solution was appropriate and the six subscales (meals, money, mother nurturance, father nurturance, mother discipline, and father discipline) were reliable. A second study (N = 305, 82% Caucasian, 77% female) demonstrated that Retro-FUS scores related to other conceptually similar factors. Specifically, Retro-FUS scores were higher among participants reporting these factors while growing up: parental divorce, family economic adversity, more neighborhood crime, and a greater likelihood of parental alcoholism. Thus, the Retro-FUS appears to be a multi-dimensional, retrospective measure of family unpredictability that demonstrates internal consistency and preliminary construct validity. We discuss implications for research and clinical applications as well as ideas for further research using the Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale.     

Psychometric Properties and Convergent Validity of the Dependency-Oriented and Achievement-Oriented Psychological Control Scale (DAPCS) with Italian Adolescents

This study is aimed to validate the Italian version of the dependency-oriented and achievement-oriented psychological control scale (DAPCS), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess the adolescent’s perception of the two dimensions of psychological control. In Study 1, we assessed factorial validity and reliability of the Italian version of DAPCS with a sample of adolescents. In Study 2, we examined the convergent validity of the Italian version of the DAPCS analyzing the associations between the two domains of psychological control and well-established measures related to them such as strictness/supervision, overprotection, non dependency on parents, and family functioning. Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the hypothesized two-factor solution of the DAPCS, with a 16 items’ version better fitting the data, for paternal as well as for maternal ratings. High indices of internal consistency indicated that both subscales produced reliable scores. Convergent validity was confirmed by positive associations between the DAPCS’ subscales and measures of strictness and negative associations between the DAPCS’ subscales and measures of global family functioning, both for maternal and paternal ratings. Finally, results evidenced significant effects for adolescents’ and parental gender on achievement-oriented psychological control, with mothers rated higher than fathers by males and fathers rated higher than mothers by females. Overall, the results of these studies indicated that the Italian form of the DAPCS might be a useful instrument to assess the two domain-specific types of parental psychological control among Italian-speaking adolescents.     

Reliability and Validity of the Fear of Intimacy Scale in China

Clarence G. Schulz and Rose K. Kilgalen. Case Studies in Schizophrenia. New York: Basic Books, 1970, 288 pages, $8.95. Reviewed by Edward S. Filicky, PhD

D. W. Winnicott. Playing and Reality. New York: Basic Books, 1971, xiii + 169 pages, $6.95. Reviewed by Barney Greenspan, Ph.D.

Dirk L. Schaeffer. Sex Differences in Personality: Readings. Belmont, California: Cole Publishing Company, 1971, 180 pages (paperback), $3.50. Reviewed by Laura Barbanel

B. B. Wolman (Ed.). The Psychoanalytic Interpretation of History. New York: Basic Books, 1971, x, 240 pages. Reviewed by Henry P. Hoey

D. W. Winnicott. Therapeutic Consultations in Child Psychiatry. New York: Basic Books, 1971, 410 pages, $15.00. Reviewed by Shanti Tayal, Ph.D.

Donald M. Uhlin. Art for Exceptional Children. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown, 1972, 146 pages, $3.50, paperbound. Reviewed by Florence Diamond

J. L. Gewirtz (Ed.) Attachment and Dependency. New York: Halsted Press, 1972, 251 pages, $10.95. Reviewed by Leonard B. Olinger, PhD

R. H. Woody and J. D. Woody. Clinical Assessment in Counseling and Psychotherapy. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972, 370 pages. Reviewed by Dale D. Simmons, Ph.D.

Paul Ekman, W. V. Friesen, and Phoebe Ellsworth. Emotion in the Human Face. New York: Pergamon, 1972, 191 + xii pages. Reviewed by Clifford H. Swensen

Anthony Storr. Human Destructiveness. New York: Basic Books, 1972, 127 pages, $5.95. Reviewed by Norman Tallent

Henry V. Dicks. Licensed Mass Murder: A Socio-Psychological Study of Some S. S. Killers. New York: Basic Books, 1972, xiii + 283 pages, $7.95. Reviewed by Rolland S. Parker, PhD

T. R. Young. New Sources of Self. Elmsford, New York: Pergamon Press, Inc., 1972, 114 pages, $6.50. Reviewed by Ray A. Craddick

James N. Butcher, (Ed.) Objective Personality Assessment: Changing Perspectives. New York: Academic Press, 1972, 212 pages, $6.95. Reviewed by James H. Johnson

Donald P. Kent, Robert Kastenbaum, and Sylvia Sherwood. Research Planning and Action for the Elderly. New York: Behavioral Publications Press, 1972, 569 pages, $19.95. Reviewed by Margaret Mercer, PhD

Rupert Wilkinson. The Broken Rebel: A Study in Culture, Politics and Authoritarian Character. New York: Harper and Row, 1972, 390 pages, $12.95. Reviewed by Emanuel Berman

Alfred B. Heilbrun. Aversive Maternal Control. New York: John Wiley &; Sons, 1973, 324 pages, $15.95. Reviewed by Albert I. Rabin, PhD

Irla Lee Zimmerman, James M. WooSam, with Alan J. Glasser, Clinical Interpretation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Grune &; Stratton, 1973, 224 pages, $7.95. Reviewed by Ronald E. Smith, PhD

Hilde Bruch. Eating disorders: Obesity, Anorexia Nervosa and the Person Within. New York: Basic Books, 1973, 396 pages, $12.50. Reviewed by David C. Murray

Edith G. Neisser. Mothers and Daughters. Harper and Row, 1973, 396 pages, $10.00. Reviewed by Pamela Osborne Munter

Rudolf Arnheim. The Genesis of a Painting: Picasso's Guernica. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973, 145 pages, 70 illustrations, $5.95, paper. Reviewed by Florence Rand Diamond     

Factor Validity of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in Italian Medical Patients

The aim of the present study was to assess the factor structure of the Italian version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) in a large sample of patients with medical conditions, comparing four different models proposed previously in the literature. Participants were 514 Italian adult patients with diagnoses of chronic daily headache, type 1 (insulin-dependent) or type 2 diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, open-angle glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and women admitted for childbirth to a Department of Fetal–Maternal Medicine. All the patients were administered the BHS during routine visits. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare four models using several fit indices. The one-construct two-method model (i.e., the BHS measures one substantive hopelessness construct plus artifacts due to negative–positive item polarity) had the best fit indices and was more parsimonious than other models. The BHS seems to be a unidimensional measure of hopelessness, although there may be artifacts due to item polarity (i.e., positively and negatively worded items). Hopelessness scores differed in patients with particular medical diseases, with higher scores in conditions such as chronic daily headache and diabetes, and lower scores in patients positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and with open-angle glaucoma or epilepsy.     

Assessing the Validity of a Theoretically-Based Substance Abuse Scale for Personnel Selection

This paper describes the development of a theoretically-based substance abuse scale to be used for personnel selection. Twenty-eight studies were conducted to validate the predictor. A meta-analysis was conducted using all 28 of the studies (N = 4,118). The mean validity coefficients for bare bones and fully corrected analyses were .25 and .43, respectively. The studies were analyzed according to the type of subject (students, applicants, employees), method used to collect the criteria (self-report, not self-report), and job relevance of the criteria (job-related, not job-related). The method used to collect the criteria was a moderating variable: mean validity coefficients for studies using self-report and nonself-report criteria were .64 and .33, respectively.     

The Adolescent HIV Communication Belief Scale: Preliminary Reliability and Validity

Globally, there are nearly 2 million HIV positive children, many of whom are adolescents. The majority have perinatally acquired HIV. A key challenge for this population is communicating about HIV to meet emotional and practical needs. Despite evidence of its benefits, HIV communication in adolescents with HIV is rare. To enhance HIV communication, individuals’ beliefs may need to be taken into account. There is no measure of beliefs about HIV communication for adolescents living with HIV. A seven-item measure of HIV communication beliefs was developed and administered to 66 adolescents with HIV in the UK (39 female; aged 12–16 years). Data were explored using principal component analysis. Preliminary criterion-related validity was assessed by examining relationships between the measure and communication occurrence, frequency and intention. Preliminary construct validity was assessed by examining relationships between the measure and HIV stigma, HIV disclosure cognition and affect, quality of life and self-perception. Two factors were revealed: communication self-efficacy and normative beliefs; and communication attitudes. The full scale and its subscales were internally consistent. The total score showed statistically significant positive relationships with HIV communication intention, HIV disclosure cognitions and affect, and HIV stigma but not with other variables. Preliminary evidence of the measure’s good psychometric properties suggests it may be helpful in outlining relationships between HIV communication beliefs and other constructs. It may also be useful in testing interventions that aim to enhance HIV communication in this population. Further work needs to be done to establish the scale’s psychometric properties.     

Reliability and Validity of a Brief Clinician-Report Scale for Screening Behavioral Inhibition

Given the implications of behavioral inhibition (BI) on social anxiety and depression, several cost-effective methods have been developed to detect this trait. However, there is no instrument for obtaining a systematic measurement of BI that uses the reports of mental health professionals. The present study aims to explore the psychometric properties of the Behavioral Inhibition Observation System (BIOS), a brief tool enabling clinicians to provide a quick measure of BI. Parents and teachers of 361 preschool children provided measures of BI and psychopathology. Clinicians completed the BIOS after an individual meeting with every child. Seventy-four randomly selected children were exposed to standardized observation. Two researchers completed the BIOS after standardized observation. The results show that the BIOS is structured in one dimension that explains 60 % of the total variance. It shows good internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha?=?.88) and good test-retest reliability. The BIOS scores moderately converge with observational measures of BI and adequately distinguish constructs not related to BI (such as aggressiveness, disruptive behavior, or peer conflict). The results support that the BIOS, an 8-item scale that takes 3 min to complete, is valid and reliable for capturing a clinician’s measure of BI. The BIOS may help to detect temperamental disposition to social anxiety.     

中文“教师效能感量表”的信、效度研究

本研究以405名中学教师为对象,对中文版教师效能感量表(TES)的心理测量学特征进行了探讨。结果表明中文版TES具有良好的信度、结构效度和同时效度,说明中文版TES是一个可以推广的量表,但在使用过程中应注意一些问题。研究还表明教龄、职称等老师特征变量对教师效能感不存在显著影响。     

中文版一般自我效能量表的信度和效度检验

该研究以山东省610名高中生为被试,检验了中文版一般自我效能量表（GSES）的信度和效度.结果表明：（1）中文版GSES的有些项目,区分度不高;（2）中文版GSES具有较高的内部一致性信度与分半信度,但重测信度不高;（3）中文版GSES的单维度性没有得到证实;（4）中文版GSES不具有很好的预测效度.     

Turkish Version of Self-Reflection and Insight Scale: A Preliminary Study for Validity and Reliability of the Constructs

The current study aims to explore the validity and reliability characteristics of the self-reflection and insight scale originally developed by Grant et al. (Soc Behav Pers 30(8):821–836, 2002). The study includes two convenience samples, comprising a total of 659 university students. The test–retest reliability study was carried out in a private university in Istanbul. The validity study was carried out in a state university that is located in Samsun, a city in the black sea region of Turkey. Both schools recruit students coming from various regions in Turkey. The results revealed a 10-item scale as a better fit compared to the original 20-item scale. The presence of both subfactors self-reflection and insight were confirmed. The Cronbach’s alpha for the whole scale was .70, .80 for the self-reflection and .65 for the insight subscales. The convergent and discriminant validity analyses revealed a negative relationship between private self-consciousness and insight scores, positive relationship between self-reflection and social anxiety plus external locus of control. There was no significant relationship between private self-consciousness and self-reflection scores. A negative relationship was found between insight and public self-consciousness, a positive relationship between mindfulness and insight scores, and finally a nonsignificant relationship between narcissism and insight scores.     

The Italian version of the Social Comparison Rating Scale and the Submissive Behaviour Scale: Reliability and validity in a sample of adolescents

Social rank theory argues that social comparison and submissive behaviour are mechanisms by which humans and animals form themselves into social ranks. Design: this study assesses the psychometric properties of Italian versions of the Social Comparison Rating Scale—SCRS and Submissive Behaviour Scale—SBS in a sample of adolescents. The samples consisted of a clinical group (N = 200) and a non-clinical group (N = 1991). The non-clinical group allowed us to obtain two random samples used for the EFA and the CFA; moreover, we also extracted a Retest sample consisting of 219 subjects. Internal consistency was satisfactory and the factor structures were similar to the original version of the measures. The SBS and SCRS were significantly correlated with all the symptom profiles on the SCL-90-R, in both populations. Clinical populations had higher correlations with these measures. Statistical analyses showed a good fit to the data, replicating the constructs of the original scales. These results confirm that submissive behaviour and social comparison are associated with mental health problems.     

Aggression-Altruism: A Scale and Some Data on Its Reliability and Validity

This article reports on the development of a scale designed to measure aggression. Using usual procedures for Thurstone scaling, a thirty-seven item Aggression Scale was created, Form A consisting of twenty items and Form B of seventeen. The test-retest reliability coefficient was .60. Results from three validity studies showed that aggression as measured by the Aggression Scale was related to perceived mild aggression training by fathers for males only, to nationalism, and to Machiavellianism.     

A Latent-Variable Modeling Approach to Assessing Reliability and Validity of a Creativity Instrument

ABSTRACT: A multiple-choice paper-and-pencil test was developed based on the constructs from the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT). The rationale of this new instrument was to shorten the amount of time required for the administration and scoring of creativity tests. This instrument was translated into Spanish and administered along with the TTCT and the Villa and Auzmendi Creativity Test (VAT) to 2,270 students in Spain. Teachers' ratings of student creativity were also obtained. Using a traditional concurrent validation approach from an earlier study, we found low but significant correlations between the scores of the four subscales of the new test and the same subscales of the VAT and TTCT, as well as the students' academic achievement measures. In terms of reliability, mostly moderate (internal consistency) reliability coefficients were found for the new test. As an alternative to the traditional approach, this study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) with multiple indicators to examine the validity and reliability of the new creativity test. The results indicated that substantial improvements in the validity and reliability estimation over the traditional approaches can be made by using SEM with multiple indicators.     

Reliability and Validity of a Brief Life Satisfaction Scale with a High School Sample

This study investigated the psychometric properties of a brief life satisfaction scale, the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (Huebner et al., 2004a), with a high school age sample. The results revealed preliminary evidence of internal consistency, two-week test–retest reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity for research purposes. Expected demographic effects were also obtained. Overall, the findings suggest that the BMSLSS may provide a useful indicator of adolescent life satisfaction in studies in which brevity of measures is an important consideration.     

The Beliefs About Medication Scale: Development, Reliability, and Validity

The purpose of the study was to develop and evaluate a psychometrically sound health belief measure, the Beliefs About Medication Scale (BAMS) that can be used with adolescent chronic illness populations whose prescribed treatment includes oral medication. One hundred and thirty-three adolescents (age 11–18 years) with asthma (n = 60), HIV (n = 31), or inflammatory bowel disease (n = 42) completed the BAMS and, along with their parent, a self-report medication interview. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized subscales of Perceived Threat, Positive Outcome Expectancy, Negative Outcome Expectancy, and Intent to Adhere to treatment. The subscales evidenced good internal consistency and 3-week test-retest reliability. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the health belief constructs accounted for 22% of the variance in medication adherence beyond demographic and illness characteristics. The study provides preliminary evidence of the reliability and validity of a theoretically based measure of health beliefs for adolescents. The BAMS may be a useful tool to evaluate the psychological barriers to adherence that place teenagers at risk for nonadherence.