Psychometric properties of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and other physician-rated psychiatric scales for the assessment of depression in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis in Turkey

This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of clinician-rated psychiatric scales for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment in Turkey. For this, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale, and Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) were administered to 45 ESRD outpatients undergoing HD treatment. Regarding the reliability of HDRS and HARS, internal consistency and split-half reliability analyses revealed acceptable coefficients. The test - retest reliability coefficients were also examined for all measures after a period of a month, and despite this relatively long time interval, test - retest reliability coefficients were above .60 for all measures. Concerning the validity studies, all these scales revealed suitable convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity outcomes. A cut-off point of 10 for HDRS is suggested for the identification of depression in this population. In general, the findings of this study indicate that HDRS, HARS, CGI, GAF, and MMSE are reliable and valid instruments that can be used among ESRD patients undergoing HD.     

近乎完美量表修订版（APS-R）的中文修订

对近乎完美量表修订版（APS-R）进行中文修订,并考察其信度和效度。1174名大学生参加正式测试,321名学生7周后参加了复测。结果显示,量表的内部一致性信度、分半信度和重测信度比较理想;探索性因素分析和验证性因素分析均支持APS-R的高标准、差异和秩序的理论建构;高标准分量表与自尊、自我效能感、正性情绪呈正相关,差异分量表与抑郁、特质焦虑、状态焦虑和负性情绪呈正相关。APS-R中文修订版具有较高的信效度,可以作为国内完美主义研究、心理咨询和治疗工作的一个有效工具。     

Optimized Split-Half Reliability for the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test: Further Evidence for the Use of the Maximization Procedure

Bender-Gestalt protocols from a clinical sample (N = 100) were scored according to the Pascal-Suttell method and γ?11? derived for all possible split-half combinations (n = 35). The distribution of these 35 reliability coefficients proved to be negatively skewed, justifying the use of the maximum split-half reliability rather than the usual odd-even or alpha coefficients. The maximized γ?11?, using only eight designs, was .72, which was higher than has heretofore been reported. Implications of low ns and negative skews for correlational distributions are discussed, and the maximization procedure is recommended even for psychometric tests when the number of items is low.     

Real and ideal self-images in second- and fifth-grade children: Reliability,validity and factorial structure

The reliability, construct validity, and factorial structure of three self-image instruments were assesses in a total of 80 second- and fifth-grade children. Both real self-images (children's current views of themselves) and ideal self-images (the self views to which children aspire) were assessed. the split-half and test—retest reliabilities of the instruments were adequate even for children's as young as second graders. Stronger evidence of construct validity was found for the older children, although the intercorrelation patterns for both age groups were characterized by larger correlations between assessments of real and ideal self-images using the same instrument than between assessments of the same component of the self-image across the three instruments. Contrary to predictions gener ated by developmental theory, the factor analyses provided non evidence of increasing differentiation of the self-image with age. They did, however, reveal that second and fifth graders distinguish distinctly different functional domains within their self-images.     

Development of the Japanese Version of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS-J)

Generic conspiracist belief refers to the general tendency toward conspiracist ideation independent of specific event-based conspiracy theories. The present research aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS-J). In two studies, we examined the factor structure, reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity of the GCBS-J. In Study 1 (N = 600), exploratory factor analysis with a split-half subsample proposed a two-factor solution dissociating extraterrestrial conspiracy from other conspiracist ideations. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis with the other split-half subsample confirmed the two-factor structure. Study 1 also established convergent validity by indicating strong positive correlations with other measures of conspiracist belief. Study 2 (N = 178) added further evidence to indicate a positive correlation with related psychological constructs, such as paranormal beliefs. Study 2 also confirmed temporal test–retest reliability and the discriminant validity of the GCBS-J by indicating no association with an unrelated construct, namely Big-Five personality traits. These findings suggest that the GCBS-J is a useful tool for assessing generic conspiracist beliefs within Japanese samples.     

Statistical approaches to achieving sufficiently high test score reliabilities for research purposes

The author provides statistical approaches to aid investigators in assuring that sufficiently high test score reliabilities are achieved for specific research purposes. The statistical approaches use tests of statistical significance between the obtained reliability and lowest population reliability that an investigator will tolerate. The statistical approaches work for coefficient alpha and related coefficients and for alternate-forms, split-half (2-part alpha), and retest reliabilities. The author shows that, in some instances, a formula can help to estimate the sample size necessary for the statistical test.     

Retest Reliability of Scores on Objective and Projective Measures of Dependency: Relationship to Life Events and Interest Interval

The retest reliabilities of widely used objective and projective measures of dependency were assessed in a mixed-sex sample of undergraduates (54 women and 34 men). Subjects completed Hirschfeld and colleagues' (1977) Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI) and Masling, Rabie, and Blondheim's (1967) Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) scale on two occasions separated by 16, 28, or 60 weeks. The IDI and ROD scale showed good retest reliability over 16 weeks in both men and women. However, the ROD scale did not show adequate retest reliability over longer periods in subjects of either sex. IDI scores showed excellent long-term retest reliability in women, but poor longterm retest reliability in men. Subjects' self-reports and impact ratings of life events experienced during the intertest period were unrelated To changes in subjects' IDI and ROD scale scores from Time 1 to Time 2, regardless of the intertest interval used.     

The Conners Abbreviated Teacher Rating Scale: Development of norms in Brazil

Normative data for the Conners Abbreviated (10-item) Teacher Rating Scale (CATRS-10) derived from 1,068 children in Brazil are presented. Ratings of boys were higher than ratings of girls, and younger children had higher ratings than older children. Test-retest reliability data indicate that the CATRS-10 has acceptable reliability in Brazil but only when the same teacher rates the child at both test and retest (interval of 1 to 3 months). This study found that ratings at retest were significantly lower than ratings at first test whether or not the same teacher rated the child on both occasions. The CATRS-10 was shown to be a valid instrument in Brazil since children with behavioral problems requiring medical or psychological treatment were rated higher than children without such problems.     

Informant-Based Determinants of Symptom Attenuation in Structured Child Psychiatric Interviews

Informant-related determinants of item attenuation, that is, the drop-off in symptom endorsement rates at retest, were examined in an enriched community subsample of 245 parent–child pairs drawn from the National Institute of Mental Health Methods for Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders Study. Youngsters and their parents were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (Version 2.3; DISC-2.3) on two occasions with a mean test–retest interval of 12 days. Item attenuation rates were high for both informants, with adults failing to confirm 42% and children 58% of baseline responses at retest. Stepwise regressions revealed that item attenuation at DISC-P retest was higher for adult informants who were younger, and who reported on older and less impaired children. On the DISC-C, attenuation was higher for children who were less impaired, rated as doing worse in school, and who had a longer test–retest interval. These results are broadly consistent with past studies examining the determinants of attenuation and test–retest reliability and have implications for the design and use of structured diagnostic instruments.     

Assessing planning ability with the Tower of London task: psychometric properties of a structurally balanced problem set

In clinical and experimental settings, planning ability is typically assessed using the Tower of London (ToL) or one of its variants. For enhancing the comparability across studies, a common ToL problem set was recently suggested comprising a collection of 4- to 7-move problems. Based on previous theoretical and empirical analyses of problem space and task structure, development of the problem set accounted particularly for the influence of structural problem parameters on the detection of individual differences in planning ability. To assess its adequacy as a clinical and research instrument, the present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the suggested problem set. Results showed a clear and nearly perfect linear increase of task difficulty across minimum moves. Given a broad range of item difficulty, high- and low-achieving subjects could be well discriminated. The test scores' split-half reliability (r = .72) and internal consistency (α = .69) were satisfactory. Taken together, the ToL problem set evaluated here proved to have good psychometric qualities and constitutes a conceptually sound basis for diagnostic and research purposes.     

Plasticity of inhibition in older adults: Retest practice and transfer effects

This study assessed plasticity of inhibition in older adults through examining retest practice effects in a six-session training paradigm using the Stroop task and the training-induced transfer effects to a range of cognitive measures. Fifty-six older adults (aged 60-84 years, mean = 71.05, standard deviation = 6.17) participated in this study. They were evenly assigned to one of four groups: summary feedback, individualized and adaptive feedback, no-feedback, or a no-contact control group. The results suggest that older adults are able to improve inhibition across retest sessions but unable to transfer the retest practice effects to other tasks. In addition, the improvement is not item specific and feedback does not appear to moderate the magnitude of the training benefits; however, feedback does appear to reduce interference variance across retest practice sessions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).     

The (un)reliability of item-level semantic priming effects

Many researchers have tried to predict semantic priming effects using a myriad of variables (e.g., prime–target associative strength or co-occurrence frequency). The idea is that relatedness varies across prime–target pairs, which should be reflected in the size of the priming effect (e.g., cat should prime dog more than animal does). However, it is only insightful to predict item-level priming effects if they can be measured reliably. Thus, in the present study we examined the split-half and test–retest reliabilities of item-level priming effects under conditions that should discourage the use of strategies. The resulting priming effects proved extremely unreliable, and reanalyses of three published priming datasets revealed similar cases of low reliability. These results imply that previous attempts to predict semantic priming were unlikely to be successful. However, one study with an unusually large sample size yielded more favorable reliability estimates, suggesting that big data, in terms of items and participants, should be the future for semantic priming research.     

A Spiritual Screening Tool for Older Adults

Objective The purpose of this non-experimental study was to investigate the reliability and validity of a self-administered screening tool for spiritual distress in older adults. The tool was unique in that items were consistent with a conceptual definition of spirituality presented in the professional literature and supported by theories of behavioral development for older adults. Methods Questionnaires were distributed to residents of a continuing care retirement community participating in a class on spirituality. Results The split-half reliability coefficient was found to be 0.776. Construct validity was established and a cutoff value for spiritual distress was determined. Discussion Tests for reliability and validity demonstrated confidence in use of the tool to screen for spiritual distress in older adults.     

《儿童人际冲突应对策略量表》的编制

为研究儿童心理与行为发展的需要,对儿童人际冲突应对策略量表进行编制。抽取8-14岁小学儿童392名,采用团体测试的方法进行测量。通过因素分析提取5个因素:问题解决、求助、逃避、情绪内倾化和情绪外倾化。量表结构比较稳定。各分量表的内部一致性信度系数和分半信度系数分别为0.56-0.84和0.54-0.83;两周重测信度系数0.86。专家评定结果表明各分量表的内容效度理想。结果表明该量表是一种较实用的测量儿童人际冲突应对策略的工具。     

心理健康素质测评系统·中国成年人情绪性量表的编制

探讨情绪性在人格特质层面的内涵及结构,并编制适合中国成年人使用的情绪性量表。采用开放性问卷调查,专家讨论及参考国内外同类量表的方式形成条目池,分别选取203名和522名大学生对量表进行预试和正式施测,检验量表的心理测量学指标。研究发现（1）情绪性量表由3个维度组成,分别是愉悦性、镇定性和表达性,量表具有较好的结构效度和信度;（2）验证性因素分析结果表明模型拟合较好,量表结构合理;（3）情绪性量表与抑郁自评量表、状态-特质焦虑问卷以及情绪表达量表有较好的同时效度。情绪性量表的信度和效度均令人满意,可以用来评     

A diffusion model analysis of the effects of aging in the lexical-decision task

The effects of aging on response time (RT) are examined in 2 lexical-decision experiments with young and older subjects (age 60-75). The results show that the older subjects were slower than the young subjects, but more accurate. R. Ratcliff s (1978) diffusion model provided a good account of RTs, their distributions, and response accuracy. The fits show an 80-100-ms slowing of the nondecision components of RT for older subjects relative to young subjects and more conservative decision criterion settings for older subjects than for young subjects. The rates of accumulation of evidence were not significantly different for older compared with young subjects (less than 2% and 5% higher for older subjects relative to young subjects in the 2 experiments).     

Reliability of the Halstead-Reitan Battery in individuals displaying acutely psychotic behavior

The purpose of the present study is to examine the test-retest reliability of the Halstead-Reitan Battery (HRB) in an acutely psychotic population. Ten acutely psychotic patients, initially tested upon admission to an inpatient unit of the Austin State Hospital, were selected for retesting on the basis of showing the most complete remission of psychotic symptoms of all patients tested over the 14-month period from June 1978 to August 1979. Only patients showing good remission were selected in order to maximize the potential for changes in test performance to occur and, thus, provide a conservative estimate of test-retest reliability. The average retest interval was 10.4 weeks (SD=6.67), with retest being completed just prior to discharge. Reliability was examined for each HRB subtest across subjects, as well as for each subject across subtest. While the patients generally showed an improved performance at retest, the reliability of the HRB was relatively high.