Internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Dutch translation of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity among adolescents

A sample of 1,021 young people attending Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 at Catholic secondary schools within the state-maintained sector completed the Dutch translation of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity. The data support its reliability and validity and commend it for further use in studies conducted among young people in The Netherlands.     

Internal consistency reliability and validity of the Hebrew translation of the Oxford Happiness Inventory

The Hebrew translation of the Oxford Happiness Inventory and the short form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire were completed by 298 undergraduate women in Israel. The findings confirm the internal reliability of the Hebrew translation of the Oxford Happiness Inventory and support the construct validity according to which "happiness is a thing called stable extraversion."     

Internal consistency and construct validity of two versions of the Revised Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire

The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1973) is the questionnaire most extensively used to measure imagery vividness, but two newer versions have been developed. In this study, the reliability and construct validity of these two measures were assessed: the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VVIQ-2) and the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire-Revised Version (VVIQ-RV). A total of 206 undergraduate psychology students completed both questionnaires, and to assess construct validity, they also completed the Object-Spatial Imagery and Verbal Questionnaire (OSIVQ), Betts' Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery (Betts' QMI), and the Measure of Ability to Form Spatial Mental Imagery (MASMI). Internal consistency reliability for both was high, with the VVIQ-RV having a Cronbach's alpha of .96, and the VVIQ-2 an alpha of .91. The construct validity of the VVIQ-RV and the VVIQ-2 was supported by the high correlations they had with the other three measures of imagery, which were all close to .50, and the very small correlations (.06-.07) they had with the Verbal scale of the OSIVQ, indicating that they validly measured the imagery construct. Thus, the findings support the two versions as equally valid psychometric instruments for measuring image vividness.     

Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Farsi version of the Oxford Happiness Inventory

This study examined the reliability and preliminary evidence for validity of a Farsi (Persian) version of the Oxford Happiness Inventory with 309 undergraduate students (161 women and 148 men). Participants completed the Farsi versions of four subscales of the Oxford Happiness Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Depression-Happiness Scale. Analyses indicated that the Farsi version of the Oxford Happiness Scale has reliability as a measure of well-being and provided some preliminary evidence of construct validity.     

The Narcissistic Personality Inventory: alternative form reliability and further evidence of construct validity

The aim of this study was twofold: (a)to measure the alternate form reliability of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and (b)to determine its construct validity by correlating it with the four scales of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). The alternate form reliability was .72. The Extraversion and Psychoticism scales of the EPQ were positively and significantly correlated with the narcissism measure, and the Lie scale showed a significant negative correlation. The Neuroticism scale showed a nonsignificant relationship with narcissism. In addition, the combined Extraversion and Psychoticism scales produced[ a Multiple R with the narcissism measure that accounted for significantly more of the variance in narcissism than did either measure alone.     

Internal consistency reliability of the tactual performance test trials

Internal consistency reliabilities were calculated for the Tactual Performance Test Preferred Hand (n=300), Nonpreferred H and (n=302), and Both Hands (n=314) trials, and Total Time. Reliabilities are reported for the total sample and three groups: normal, undiagnosed patients sent for assessment, and alcoholic persons. The reliability coefficients ranged from .59 to .90.     

Attitudes toward sexual abuse: Sex differences and construct validity

An “Attitudes toward Sexual Abuse” scale is introduced, and its reliability and validity in a study of university students is described. Attitudes supportive of sexual contact with children were associated with variables previously linked to sexual interest in children: male gender, use of pornography, greater numbers of sex partners, and greater endorsement of a scale measuring acceptance of sexual aggression against women. Such beliefs predicted both male and female university students' self-reported interest in having sex with a child, given the absence of detection or punishment, suggesting the potential importance of socially transmitted attitudes in the etiology of sexually abusive behavior.     

Velocity discrimination: reliability and construct validity in older adults

The aim of this study was to determine whether a test of velocity discrimination is a reliable and valid measure of proprioception in healthy older adults. Results revealed excellent test-retest reliability over a 2-week period. Velocity discrimination also indicated good construct validity with modest correlations with center of pressure sway outcomes in eyes open and closed conditions as well as stair climbing time. Good construct validity was identified by velocity discrimination sensitivity to age with a higher mean value for the older participants than for the younger participants. These findings suggest velocity discrimination is a valid and reliable measure of velocity sense, which may be included with measures of position and movement sense to enhance the proprioceptive testing repertoire among researchers. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of evaluation of proprioceptive training programs aimed to enhance postural control.     

Internal consistency reliability of the self-report antisocial process screening device

The self-report version of the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) has become a popular measure for assessing psychopathic features in justice-involved adolescents. However, the internal consistency reliability of its component scales (Narcissism, Callous-Unemotional, and Impulsivity) has been questioned in several studies. This study evaluates the internal consistency reliability of the self-report APSD by examining various indices (e.g., Cronbach's alpha, mean interitem correlation) across 11 studies. Whereas the Narcissism and Impulsivity scales display moderate to good reliability, internal consistency indices for the Callous-Unemotional scale are consistently poor across studies. Suggestions are made for revisions to this scale that would substantially improve its internal consistency reliability.     

Brazilian-Portuguese empathy quotient: evidences of its construct validity and reliability

Empathy is the ability to read other's mind and understand their intentions. This paper examines the psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of a short form of the empathy quotient (EQ, 15 items). The EQ-15 was administered to 237 participants from the general population from Jo?o Pessoa, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the tripartite model with cognitive, emotional and social empathy factors. In line with other studies, gender differences were only observed for the first two factors, with female participants scoring higher on both, which suggests that the social factor might not constitute a truly dimension of empathy. Strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity was only observed for the cognitive factor. The poor psychometric parameters of the emotional and social factors are argued to reflect the complexity and contrasting ideas of their items. The possibility of elaborating specific items for the emotional and social factors is also discussed.     

Research Validity Scales for the NEO-PI-R: additional evidence for reliability and validity

We examined the reliability and validity of the research validity scales (Schinka, Kinder, & Kremer, 1997) for the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R) in a clinical sample. The Negative Presentation Management (NPM) and Positive Presentation Management (PPM) scales were found to have satisfactory internal consistency reliability. Support for the validity of these scales was provided by the pattern of convergent and discriminant correlations with respective Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) validity scales. Finally, PAI profiles of individuals with invalid NPM scores were found to differ significantly from those with valid NPM scores. Comparisons of the invalid profiles with profiles from other clinical samples provided additional support for the use of the NPM scale as a measure of negative impression management.     

The Japanese version of the revised Life Orientation Test: reliability and construct validity

The Japanese translation of the revised Life Orientation Test was completed by 223 Japanese college students. Factor analysis yielded two factors, namely, Optimism and Pessimism. These factor scales showed adequate reliability and construct validity.     

The developmental profile: preliminary results on interrater reliability and construct validity

This study presents the preliminary results of research into the interrater reliability and construct validity of the Developmental Profile (DP). In the DP a number of developmental lines, such as Object-Relations, Self-Images, and Problem-Solving Capacities, are assessed and classified according to the level of functioning. A total of 108 profiles were assessed, drawn from three different categories of patients. The weighted kappa values for interrater reliability were sufficient. On the adaptive level, but also on the maladaptive levels Symbiosis and Resistance, significant differences were found between psychiatric patients, "normal controls" (dental patients) and somatic patients. No differences were recorded between the latter two groups. The conclusion is that the DP is a promising instrument, of which the reliability and validity has to be further investigated in order to contribute to scientific support for psychodynamic theory formation.     

The internal consistency and concurrent validity of a Spanish translation of the Child Behavior Checklist

The Child Behavior Checklist's applicability to a Hispanic sample was assessed by an examination of the instrument's internal consistency and concurrent validity. The CBCL and TRF were administered to a community sample representative of children of Puerto Rico aged 4 to 16. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of empirically derived scales. The relation of CBCL and TRF scores to clinical diagnosis, adaptive functioning, and need for services served as indicators of the concurrent validity of the instrument's Spanish version. The results indicate that the total behavior problem scores on the instruments are good continuous measures of maladjustment for children in Puerto Rico. A child with high values on the scales has a high probability of being classified as a case by a psychiatrist. High levels of internal consistency were found in most subscales. Only scales comprising low prevalence problems showed poor internal consistency.     

Correlates and predictors of an Arabic translation of the Snyder Hope Scale

Snyder, C. R. (1994) has defined hope as goal-directed thinking in which the person has the perceived capacity to find routes to goals (called pathways thinking), along with the motivation to use those pathways (called agency thinking). Using this definition, Snyder, C. R., et al. (1991) developed and validated the trait Hope Scale. This Hope Scale was translated from English to Arabic for the present sample of Kuwaiti college students. Results showed that the scale manifested excellent internal and test–retest reliabilities. In addition, a principal components analysis affirmed the presence of the two expected factors, pathways and agency components. Furthermore, the concurrent validation of the Arabic Hope Scale (AHS) was also demonstrated. The AHS was positively correlated with measures of positive affect, optimism, satisfaction with life, self-esteem, and extraversion, whereas the AHS was inversely related to measures of negative affect, anxiety, and pessimism. The findings strongly support the use of the AHS in Arabic speaking samples.     

Internal consistency reliability of the fractionated and whole University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test

The internal consistency reliability (ICR) of the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) and its 10-, 20-, and 30-item fractions was explored, as well as the relationships between the fractions and the entire 40-item test. Pearson correlation coefficients (rs) were computed among all independent combinations and permutations of the four 10-item UPSIT booklets using data from 774 subjects. The median r values of the 10- and 20-item combinations were used to establish the ICRs of the 10- and 20-item tests. The ICRs of the 30- and 40-item tests were estimated using the Spearman-Brown formula and the median rs of the 20-item combinations. Additional ICR estimates of the 40-item UPSIT were obtained from nonsymmetrical fractions using the Horst formula. The ICRs for the UPSIT and its 10-, 20-, and 30-item fractions were 0.922, 0.752, 0.855 and 0.898, respectively. No major sex differences emerged. Estimates of correlations between (1) single booklets and two-booklet combinations and (2) the 40-item UPSIT using Guilford's (1953) correction for nonindependence ranged from 0.812 to 0.871. Overall, these results indicate that (1) the UPSIT and its 10-, 20-, and 30-item fragments have very high ICRs and (2) individual UPSIT booklets or their combinations can be used to assess smell function in a reliable manner where extreme time constraints are present (e.g., in surveys and in brief neuropsychological test batteries).     

An evaluation of the reliability and construct validity of eating disorder measures in White and Black women

Most measures of eating disorder symptoms and risk factors were developed in predominantly White female samples. Yet eating disorders affect individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Black women appear more vulnerable to certain forms of eating pathology, such as binge eating, and less susceptible to other eating disorder symptoms and risk factors, such as body dissatisfaction, compared with their White peers. Despite concern that extant measures do not adequately assess eating concerns among Black women, the construct validity of scores on most of these measures has not been adequately examined within this population. This study included 2,208 Black and White women who completed the following: the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), the Eating Disorder Inventory Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness subscales, the Bulimia Test-Revised (BULIT-R), the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Evaluation subscale (MBSRQ-AE), and the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS). Most measures yielded internally consistent scores in both races. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that loadings for some measures, including the EAT-26 and EDDS, were not invariant across groups and thus do not assess equivalent constructs in White and Black women. However, others, including the BULIT-R, BES, OBCS, and MBSRQ-AE, exhibited factorial invariance in both races. Results suggest scores are likely not equivalent across races for several popular measures of eating disorder symptoms and risk factors. Thus, it is recommended that researchers and clinicians obtain additional information regarding racial/cultural factors when using these instruments with Black women.     

An empirical look at the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT): reliability and construct validity

Although the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) has been in use for almost half a century, there are still quite contradictory views about whether it is a reliable instrument, and if so, what it really measures. Thus, based on data from 39 female students, we first examined DMT inter-coder reliability by analyzing the agreement among trained judges in their coding of the same DMT protocols. Second, we constructed a "parallel" photographic picture that retained all structural characteristic of the original and analyzed DMT parallel-test reliability. Third, we examined the construct validity of the DMT by (a) employing three self-report defense-mechanism inventories and analyzing the intercorrelations between DMT defense scores and corresponding defenses in these instruments, (b) studying the relationships between DMT responses and scores on trait and state anxiety, and (c) relating DMT-defense scores to measures of self-esteem. The main results showed that the DMT can be coded with high reliability by trained coders, that the parallel-test reliability is unsatisfactory compared to traditional psychometric standards, that there is a certain generalizability in the number of perceptual distortions that people display from one picture to another, and that the construct validation provided meager empirical evidence for the conclusion that the DMT measures what it purports to measure, that is, psychological defense mechanisms.     

The factor structure and criterion validity of the short form of the Eating Attitudes Test.

One of the more frequently used measures of eating disorders is the 40-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) developed by Garner and Garfinkel (1979). Although originally designed to diagnose anorexia nervosa, the test has recently been applied to nonclinical populations also. In this study, we examined psychometric and validity data for a short version of the scale, the EAT-26. Using a sample of 809 female soldiers in their late teens, results showed that the EAT-26 is reliable, the factor structure is different from that obtained in clinical groups, and the EAT-26 is significantly correlated with body image, weight, and diet.