Validity of Treatment Target Progress Ratings as Indicators of Youth Improvement

We examined whether clinical progress ratings on the Monthly Treatment and Progress Summary form (MTPS), an idiographic treatment progress measure, were meaningfully related to changes measured by two separate standardized instruments; the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) and the Child and Adolescent Level of Care Utilization System (CALOCUS). Validity coefficients were examined at intake and three-, six-, and nine-month follow-up periods. Samples were selected for each measure and follow-up period from the population of youth receiving services through the Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division’s (CAMHD) system of care. Significant youth improvement was evident on all three measures across all follow-up intervals. The type of changes measured by the MTPS and CAFAS were more alike over longer follow-up intervals than changes measured by the CALOCUS. The MTPS captures distinct aspects of client change that overlaps somewhat with CAFAS and CALOCUS measures. The MTPS is a brief client-tailored measure that seems to provide valid, sensitive, and nonredundant client specific treatment outcome information that can be collected on a frequent basis within a complex system of care.     

Comparing sport motivation scales: A response to Pelletier et al.

ObjectivesPelletier, Rocchi, Vallerand, Deci, and Ryan (2013) proposed a new version of the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS; Pelletier, Fortier, Vallerand, Tuson, & Blais, 1995) as a measure of different types of behavioral regulations in sport, as outlined in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). They examined various aspects of reliability and validity of scale scores, and concluded that the new scale performs better than the original version. They also claimed that the SMS-II is superior to other measures of motivation in sport, including the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ) developed by Lonsdale, Hodge, and Rose (2008). By comparing the evidence presented in papers by Pelletier et al. and Lonsdale et al., our objective was to examine the relative merits and shortcomings of the two measures and suggest directions for future research into sport motivation measurement.ConclusionsBoth the SMS-II and BRSQ have shown relative strengths and weaknesses. Overall, the construct validity evidence of scores derived from the two measures was similar. There is insufficient information to support the claim that one scale is superior to the other. Researchers are encouraged to make direct comparisons by administering both measures to the same group of participants in future studies.     

The association between g and K in a sample of 4246 Swedish twins: A behavior genetic analysis

Whereas the heritability of general intelligence (g) is very well documented, there are relatively few reports of the heritability of life history speed (K). Moreover, the correlation between g and K is of great theoretical significance. Here, we examine the heritabilities of g and K in a sample of 2123 complete Swedish twin pairs, as well as looking for evidence of common genetic variance between the two. We find a significant albeit very small correlation between relatively strong measures of g (the Wiener Matrizen Test) and K (the Mini-K; r = .03, p < .05). Controlling for attenuation by reliabilities and imperfect validity using validity generalization increased the correlation to rho = .05 (p < .05). There was no significant common additivity between g and K, however path elimination in behavior genetic structural equations modeling suggests that the small common variance is nonetheless likely to stem from shared additive genetic influences rather than from environmental influences. The implications of this are discussed. Our new estimate of the heritability of the life history in the Swedish population is a particularly significant result, as the heritability of life history speed has never before been established in non-US samples.     

Validation de la version francophone de l’Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC-vf)

Introduction and objectiveThis article presents two validation studies of the French version of the Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1998; ERC-vf, Nader-Grosbois, 2013) led with preschoolers. This questionnaire is applicable to 3–12 years old children with and without disorder.MethodIn the study 1 (n = 152), the teachers filled the ERC-vf and a personality scale. In the study 2 (n = 71), the ERC-vf was completed two times by the teachers and by the parents who also filled other measures of emotion regulation and of social competences.ResultsThe study 1 shows a good internal consistency and a two-factor structure (emotion regulation and dysregulation). The scores for these factors are significantly linked with developmental ages, the global level of intellectual efficiency and specific factors of personality. The study 2 shows a good inter-judges agreement, a stability test-retest and the external convergent validity between scores in ERC-vf and in other measures of emotion regulation and of social competences.ConclusionAs the ERC-vf has good psychometric properties, it may be used for research and for assessment in intervention in French-speaking areas.     

The conceptual link between social desirability and cultural normativity

Psychologists have a recurrent concern that socially desirable responding (SDR) is a form of response distortion that compromises the validity of self‐report measures, especially in high‐stakes situations where participants are motivated to make a good impression. Psychologists have used various strategies to minimise SDR or its impact, for example, forced choice responding, ipsatization, and direct measures of social desirability. However, empirical evidence suggests that SDR is a robust phenomenon existing in many cultures and a substantive variable with meaningful associations with other psychological variables and outcomes. Here, we review evidence of the occurrence of SDR across cultures and tie SDR to the study of cultural normativity and cultural consonance in anthropology. We suggest that cultural normativity is an important component of SDR, which may partly explain the adaptiveness of SDR and its association with positive outcomes.     

Psychometrics properties of the French version of the van Dam's Employability Questionnaire

IntroductionThe importance of employability is related to the fact that various studies show that this resource allows people to enter and maintain their employment or to progress in their career.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to analyse the psychometric characteristics of the French version of van Dam's Employability Scale.MethodOne hundred and ninety French workers and job seekers completed the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out, and reliability and discriminant validity between employability orientation and employability activities were tested.ResultsThe results confirm two related but independent factors.ConclusionVan Dam's scale offers the professional community an excellent short instrument to measure the two dimensions of employability: employability orientation and employability activities.     

Psychometric properties of Spanish version of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale

Background/ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) in a large sample of patients with non-metastatic, resected cancer.MethodsProspective, observational, multicenter study for which 914 patients were recruited from 15 Spanish hospitals. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, validity and reliability analyses were conducted.ResultsFactor-analytic results indicated a 4-factor structure of the Spanish version of the Mini-MAC. Three subscales have psychometric properties similar to those of Helplessness, Anxious preoccupation, and Cognitive avoidance of the original the Mini-MAC. The Fighting spirit and the Fatalism subscales were combined on the Positive attitude scale. The four factor-derived scale scores exhibited acceptable accuracy for individual measurement purposes, as well as stability over time in test-retest assessments at 6 months. Validity assessments found meaningful relations between the derived scale scores, and Brief Symptom Inventory depression and anxiety scores and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy spiritual well-being scores.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the Mini-MAC provides reliable and valid measures for patients with non-metastatic, resected cancer, and results corroborate the instrument’s cross-cultural validity.     

Dynamic dominance persists during unsupported reaching

Previous studies examining lateralization of arm movements focused on supported movements in the horizontal plane, removing the effects of gravity. The authors hypothesized that interlimb differences in free reaching would be consistent with the differences shown during supported reaching. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected for the forearm and upper arm segments in a 3-direction reaching task. Results showed lateralization of coordination, reflected by initial movement direction and trajectory curvature. The nondominant arm showed increased initial direction errors, and path curvature associated with a timing deficit between elbow and shoulder peak torques. These coordination deficits did not disrupt final position accuracy. The authors conclude that nondominant arm coordination deficits are similar to those reported previously for horizontal plane movements.     

Towards multifaceted Machiavellianism: Content, factorial, and construct validity of a German Machiavellianism Scale

Machiavellianism comprises several distinct aspects (Rauthmann & Will, 2011), but it is unclear what Machiavellianism scales measure. The current study exemplarily investigates for a German Machiavellianism Scale (Henning & Six, 2008) (a) item content, (b) factorial structure, and (c) factor correlations with other scales (Big Five, narcissism, psychopathy, emotional manipulation, socio-emotional skills, self-esteem, self-monitoring) in a large sample (n = 438 women, n = 138 men). Findings yielded that (a) cynical/misanthropic views, agentic orientations, and deceitful behavior are (over-)represented in content; (b) different Machiavellianism factors emerge for men and women; and (c) there are differential associations of these factors with other scales. Findings are relevant for conceptualization and measurement of Machiavellianism.