Bipolar locus-of-control scales

Empirical results of former research as well as the theoretical analysis of Tyler, Gatz and Keenan (1979) leave room for doubt about the forced-choice logic of Rotter's I-E-scale. Our research shows that it is possible to construct bipolar locus-of-control scales by carefully controlling the scale content in the sense proposed by Tyler et al. Empirical results for the Levenson battery also show logical inadequacies. We propose that, in further research, only those scales whichfit the locus-of-control theory be implemented.     

How resilient are resilience scales? The Big Five scales outperform resilience scales in predicting adjustment in adolescents

Waaktaar, T. & Torgersen, S. (2009). How resilient are resilience scales? The Big Five scales outperform resilience scales in predicting adjustment in adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 157–163. This study’s aim was to determine whether resilience scales could predict adjustment over and above that predicted by the five‐factor model (FFM). A sample of 1,345 adolescents completed paper‐and‐pencil scales on FFM personality (Hierarchical Personality Inventory for Children), resilience (Ego‐Resiliency Scale [ER89] by Block & Kremen, the Resilience Scale [RS] by Wagnild & Young) and adaptive behaviors (California Healthy Kids Survey, UCLA Loneliness Scale and three measures of school adaptation). The results showed that the FFM scales accounted for the highest proportion of variance in disturbance. For adaptation, the resilience scales contributed as much as the FFM. In no case did the resilience scales outperform the FFM by increasing the explained variance. The results challenge the validity of the resilience concept as an indicator of human adaptation and avoidance of disturbance, although the concept may have heuristic value in combining favorable aspects of a person’s personality endowment.     

Magnitude scales,category scales,and the general psychophysical differential equation

The general psychophysical differential equation (GPDE) which relates scale values and Weber functions for two subjective variables was tested statistically with data from a number of category rating and magnitude estimation experiments. In all tests. it was investigated whether the GPDE is compatible with the assumption that the Weber function of the category scale is constant. This assumption implies that the category scale may be regarded as a discrimination scale. The tests were carried out by estimating the Weber function of the category scale by means of the GPDE and testing these estimates for constancy, For group data, there were fairly small systematic deviations from constancy across different experiments in the Weber functions that were estimated by the GPDE, and the hypothesis of a constant estimated Weber function could not be rejected statistically (p>.05) in most experiments. For individual data the estimated Weber functions deviated from constancy in idiosyncratic ways, and these deviations were statistically significant (p<.05)for most subjects.     

Effects of instructions and rating scales on item selection for the BSRI scales

Walkup and Abbott (1978) stated that Edwards and Ashworth's (1977) failure to replicate Bem's (1974) selection of items for the Masculinity and Femininity Scales of the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) may be attributed to differences in the instructions and anchored rating scales used in the two studies. The present study tested the hypothesis that presence of various interaction effects involving instructions and rating scales would influence the acceptability of items for the BSRI Masculinity and Femininity Scales. Results based on the evaluation of individual items by Bem's item selection criteria in each of the four experimental conditions obtained by systematically manipulating two instructions (Bem's and Edwards' instructions) and two rating scales (Bem's and Edwards' rating scales) and also those based on the analysis of variance of item mean desirability ratings from the four experimental conditions supported the hypothesis.     

Convergent validity of the MCMI-III personality disorder scales and the MMPI-2 scales

The MCMI-III personality disorder scales (Millon, 1994) were empirically validated in a sample of prisoners, psychiatric inpatients, and outpatients (N = 477). The scale intercorrelations were congruent with those obtained by Millon, Davis, and Millon (1997). We conclude that our Flemish/Dutch version shows no significant differences with the original version of the MCMI-III as far as intercorrelations are concerned. Convergent validity of the MCMI-III personality disorder scales was evaluated by the correlational data between the MCMI-III personality disorder scales and the MMPI-2 clinical (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) and personality disorder (Somwaru & Ben-Porath, 1995) scales. Improved convergence was obtained compared with previous versions of the MCMI-I. Only the compulsive MCMI-III personality disorder scale remains problematic. The scale even showed negative correlations with some of the related clinical scales and with the corresponding personality disorder scales of the MMPI-2.     

Development of control-of-outcome scales and self-efficacy scales for women in four life roles

Scales to measure control-of-outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies based on social comparisons were developed for adult females in the four life roles of occupation, parenting, marriage, and economic management. Internal consistency and construct validity of the scales were examined in two studies. Internal consistency estimates of six of the eight scales exceeded .70. A factor analysis within each role supported the distinction between control-of-outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies. Construct validity was supported by finding the hypothesized relations between the developed scales and standard measures of self-esteem, depression,and locus of control. As hypothesized, the developed scales accounted for unique portions of the variance in role-specific coping orientation and role stress. Specifically, control-of-outcome expectancies predicted active or passive coping orientation in the personal roles of parenting and marriage. It was concluded that the developed scales might have utility for understanding coping and experienced stress in various life roles.     

Investigating measurement equivalence of visual analogue scales and Likert-type scales in Internet-based personality questionnaires

Visual analogue scales (VASs) have shown superior measurement qualities in comparison to traditional Likert-type response scales in previous studies. The present study expands the comparison of response scales to properties of Internet-based personality scales in a within-subjects design. A sample of 879 participants filled out an online questionnaire measuring Conscientiousness, Excitement Seeking, and Narcissism. The questionnaire contained all instruments in both answer scale versions in a counterbalanced design. Results show comparable reliabilities, means, and SDs for the VAS versions of the original scales, in comparison to Likert-type scales. To assess the validity of the measurements, age and gender were used as criteria, because all three constructs have shown non-zero correlations with age and gender in previous research. Both response scales showed a high overlap and the proposed relationships with age and gender. The associations were largely identical, with the exception of an increase in explained variance when predicting age from the VAS version of Excitement Seeking (B₁₀ =1318.95, ΔR ² =.025). VASs showed similar properties to Likert-type response scales in most cases.     

Ratio scales of acid sourness

Experiments were conducted to assess the relation between concentration, or pH, and the perceived sourness of 24 acids. The psychophysical functions for sourness conform to the power relation S = kCⁿ which relates sensory intensity, S, to physical concentration, C. Averaged across the 24 acids, the exponent for sourness was 0.85 for both molar and percentage concentrations, and about ?1.70 for pH concentration. The intercept, k, which is a measure of relative sourness, differed across acids. The particular measure used to designate the concentration of an acid markedly influenced its magnitude and rank order of sourness.     

Ratio scales of sugar sweetness

In a series of 10 experiments, groups of Os judged the sweetness of 16 sugars. The results suggest that, for all sugars except mannose, the intensity of sweetness grows as a power function of concentration, with an exponent of about 1.3. The relative sweetness of sugars was determined using both molarity and per cent by weight. With both measures, sucrose and fructose were the sweetest sugars. The order of the remaining sugars in the sweetness hierarchy was partiy a function of the measure of concentration. The variability of the magnitude estimates of sweetness was roughly proportional to the stimulus concentration, supporting Weber’s law.