Construct validity and generalizability of the Kirton Adaption–Innovation Inventory

The factor structure of the Kirton (1976) Adaption–Innovation inventory was examined by use of confirmatory factor analysis. A three-factor structure was found, characterized by distinct, yet positively associated, facets, thereby challenging the oft-assumed unidimensional conceptualization of adaption–innovation. The measures were found to achieve satisfactory levels of reliability for the separate facets and to exhibit strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. This was demonstrated for the full 32-item inventory, as well as 20-item and 13-item abridgments. Subjects were postgraduate students from the United Kingdom (N = 149), Australia (N = 142), and the United States (N = 131). The three-factor solution was found to generalize across all three samples in the sense of yielding identical factor loadings, error variances, and correlations among facets. Differences in the means of factors were found across samples.     

Construct validity of the misrepresentation scales of the psychological screening inventory

This study provides construct validity evidence and reliabilities (consistency and stability) for 5 misrepresentation (response distortion) scales of the Psychological Screening Inventory (PSI; Lanyon, 1970, 1973, 1978) in assessing 3 constructs: exaggeration of psychopathology, exaggeration of personal virtue, and exaggeration of health problems. Using data from forensic cases, the existence and independence of these 3 constructs were confirmed in data from the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) and the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (Paulhus, 1986, 1991). The PSI scales were then shown to load highly on these constructs. The PSI scales also showed the expected patterns when their mean scores were examined for 15 sets of responses from participant groups with varied motivations to misrepresent. We present receiver operating characteristic data to show the success of the scales in distinguishing between simulators and appropriate comparison groups. Using the same data, we also present classification accuracy in terms of positive predictive power and negative predictive power based on a sensitivity level of 90% and misrepresentation base rates of .20 and .10.     

Comparison of the construct validity of the Gray–Wilson Personality Questionnaire and the BIS/BAS scales

345 subjects completed a translated, shortened version of the Gray–Wilson Personality Questionnaire (GWPQ), along with Russian versions of Carver and White’s BIS/BAS scales, the Eysenck Personality Profiler, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Exploratory factor analysis of GWPQ items pointed to a three-factor solution and three new scales were created which demonstrated adequate psychometric characteristics. Confirmatory factor analysis of the BIS/BAS scales showed that a four-factor model best fitted the data but the three BAS subscales should be treated as sub-factors of a second-order factor. Structural equation modelling showed that GWPQ scales generally explained Eysenck’s dimensions better than BIS/BAS scales. The distinction between GWPQ and Carver and White’s scales mainly concerned BAS measures. GWPQ BAS captured more of Psychoticism, whereas Carver and White’s BAS captured more of Extraversion.     

The assessment of behavioural activation—the relationship between positive emotionality and the behavioural activation system

Much personality research suggests that the variance in personality can be accounted for by a few dimensions, often hypothesized to be connected to neurological circuits. Gray's ( 1982 ) behavioural activation system (BAS) and behavioural inhibition system (BIS) in particular propose to explain for a variety of behaviour. This investigation sought to determine whether Positive Emotionality is an appropriate measure of the BAS, and how Tellegen's ( 1985 ) constructs are related to BAS activity. Measures of BAS and Positive Emotionality were administered to undergraduates. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that, while Positive Emotionality can be used as an indicator of BAS activity, it is better conceived of as a distinct, correlated construct. In addition, not all components of Positive Emotionality were related to BAS activity, and BAS was further related to components of Negative Emotionality and Constraint. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Personality types and behavioural activation and inhibition in adolescents

A hypothesis relating personality types to activity of the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) and the Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) was tested in a sample of 1015 10–18-year-old adolescents. According to this hypothesis, Undercontrollers could be characterized as individuals with overactive BAS, Overcontrollers as individuals with overactive BIS, and Resilients as individuals with low activity of both systems. These predictions were generally confirmed. Psychometrically measured BAS and BIS appeared to be the strongest predictors of Undercontrolled and Overcontrolled prototypes, respectively. Resilients were characterized by low scores on both dimensions.     

Further exploration of the Vedic Personality Inventory: validity, reliability and generalizability

The purpose of this study was to explore the validity, reliability, and generalizability of the Vedic Personality Inventory which consists of constructs derived from the Vedic literature of India. There were 57 participants (20 men, 37 women). The mean age was 44.3 yr. (SD= 15.1). The sample was predominantly older, well-educated women who volunteered to participate as respondees to invitations to participate posted in supermarkets, churches, colleges, and on the internet. Analysis yielded statistically significant correlations for scores on the Vedic Personality Inventory and on the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory, each of which measures domains of interest addressed by the first inventory.     

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.     

Construct validity of the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study

Projective and semiprojective techniques are both tools and tests. A schema for assessing the validity of projective devices is proposed: (1) Primary, consisting of (a) construct validity i.e., the soundness of the techniques vis-a-vis its underlying concepts; and (b) criterion-related validity, i.e., the concordance between tool results and specified external criteria. (2) Secondary, viz., pragmatic validity, i.e., the usefulness of the instrument in applied fields. Discussion then focuses on the construct validity of the conceptually-based, semiprojective Rosenzweig P-F Study. specifically the evidence on (a) the self-consistency of its conceptual dimensions; (b) the sequential. social development of the Types and Directions of Aggression; (c) levels of behavior elicited; (d) sensitivity to scorable changes after induced frustration: and (e) physiological correlates oft he aggression categories. In each of these areas evidence exists in support of the validity of the P-F Study.     

Construct validity of the Life Orientation Test

The Life Orientation Test (LOT; Scheier & Carver, 1985) is a common measure of optimism. Previous studies of the convergent and discriminant (vis-à-vis neuroticism) validity of the LOT have relied solely on questionnaires. Our Study 1 was a multitrait, multimethod investigation of the LOT incorporating Gottschalk and Gleser's (1969) method of content analysis of speech samples as a nonquestionnaire assessment method. The LOT did not correlate significantly with the Gottschalk Hope Scale (Gottschalk, 1974) derived from speech samples. Study 2 was an initial attempt to determine the nature of the differences between these alternate measures of optimism. In particular, it was hypothesized and found that the LOT was more fakable than the Hope Scale. Participants who received special instructions to "fake good" scored significantly higher on the LOT than did control participants who received no special instructions. Faking instructions did not significantly affect scores on the Hope Scale.     

An investigation of the Mini-Mult validity scales

Examined the ability of the Mini-Mult validity scales to detect invalid MMPI profiles. When 34 invalid MMPI profiles were rescored with the Mini-Muir only 17 of the 34 profiles invalidated by the full MMPI were detected with the Mini-Mult. This included 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an elevated F scale; 2 of 4 profiles invalidated by an elevated L scale and 1 of 3 profiles invalidated by an elevated K scale. Only 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an F-K ratio of K11 were detected. When new conversion values for the Mini-Mult were utilized, the detection rate improved considerably for the F scale and the F-K ratio.     

Construct validity of voluntary and involuntary absenteeism

Construct validity of voluntary and involuntary employee absenteeism is examined in this study. Canonical correlation analysis of absenteeism measures and organizational, personal and attitudinal variables is used to assess empirically the discriminant validity of voluntary and involuntary absenteeism. The empirical results provide evidence consistent with the interpretation that voluntary and involuntary absenteeism are distinct constructs that are associated differentially with subsets of organizational, personal and attitudinal variables. Further study of causal absenteeism models that include voluntary and involuntary absenteeism constructs and organizational, personal and attitudinal variables is needed to more clearly explicate the antecedents of absenteeism.Research support for Collin J. Watson was provided by a Faculty Fellow Research Award from the University of Utah Research Committee, a Graduate School of Business Research Award, and a sabbatical leave.     

Construct validity of the helplessness/hopelessness/haplessness scale: correlations with perfectionism and depression

In a sample of 117 undergraduates, helplessness scores and the discrepancy scores on a measure of perfectionism predicted depression scores, providing evidence for construct validity for the hopelessness, helplessness, and haplessness scales.     

Construct validity of the Concern For Appropriateness scale

Construct validity of the Concern For Appropriateness scale (CFA; Lennox & Wolfe, 1984), a measure of the tendency to adopt protective self-presentation styles, is examined using a multitrait-multimethod approach. Self-ratings on the CFA and ratings by suitemates constitute the two methods, and concern for appropriateness, interpersonal trust, and boredom susceptibility are assessed with each. Multitrait-multimethod analysis shows that the CFA scale exhibits convergent validity against peer ratings and discriminant validity against boredom susceptibility, the only other variable demonstrating convergence. Results indicate that the CFA exhibits construct validity and might therefore prove useful as an operationalization for self-presentation tendencies.