And justice for all: Revisiting the Global Belief in a Just World Scale

The Global Belief in a Just World Scale (GBJWS) has been widely used in measuring the Belief in a Just World (BJW) personality trait. Despite its widespread application across the social sciences, the validity of this scale has not been sufficiently tested in the literature. In this research, the authors examine the internal and external validity of the GBJWS using both standard correlational analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM). Specifically, the authors test the concurrent validity, internal consistency, unidimensional structure, convergent validity, and both measurement and latent mean invariance of the scale across gender and culture. The results of a pilot study suggest strong concurrent validity of the GBJWS with other BJW scales, and the findings of the two main studies support the internal and external validity of GBJWS across gender and culture. The authors’ results further show an overall greater level of BJW of Chinese individuals compared to Americans. The present research provides a much needed investigation of the validity of the GBJWS, and answers calls for research examining the scale’s utility across different populations.     

单克隆抗体的治病与“致病”

对单克隆抗体在病毒性疾病治疗和引起病毒感染增强两方面的作用进行了综述，分析了各自涉及的机理。指出于者是矛盾的统一体，辨证地看待是前提，深入研究是关键，合理和才是目标。     

The Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale: Development and psychometric validation

As interest grows in near-death experiences (NDEs), it is increasingly important to accurately identify them to facilitate empirical research and reproducibility among assessors. We aimed (1) to reassess the psychometric properties of the NDE scale developed by Greyson (1983) and (2) to validate the Near-Death Experience Content (NDE-C) scale that quantifies NDEs in a more complete way. Internal consistency, construct and concurrent validity analyses were performed on the NDE scale. Based on those results and the most recent empirical evidence, we then developed a new 20-item scale. Internal consistency, explanatory and confirmatory factor, concurrent and discriminant validity analyses were conducted. Results revealed (1) a series of weaknesses in the NDE scale, (2) a 5-factor structure covering relevant dimensions and the very good psychometric properties of the NDE-C scale, including very good internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.85) and concurrent validity (correlations above 0.76). This new reliable scale should facilitate future research.     

Designing a brief measure of social anxiety: Psychometric support for a three-item version of the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS-3)

Although social situations are enjoyable for most people, they cause extreme anxiety in others. To better understand individual differences in social anxiety, researchers have designed scales, such as the 15-item Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS; Leary, 1983), to measure people’s anxiousness in social situations. Despite the importance of measuring social anxiety, many research settings that require time or space constraints (e.g., field, longitudinal, daily diary studies) cannot always accommodate a 15-item scale. To address this problem, the current research aimed to create and validate a three-item version of the IAS. Studies examined the psychometric properties of a three-item measure of social anxiety (IAS-3). After choosing the best three items using item response theory methods (Study 1), we examined the IAS-3’s (a) concurrent validity with the 15-item IAS in a student sample (Studies 1 and 2), (b) test–retest reliability across 4 months (Study 2), and (c) construct validity in a diverse international sample (Studies 3 and 4). Across all studies, the IAS-3 showed good reliability and validity, supporting its use in future research.     

The Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale outperforms the BIDR Impression Management Scale for identifying fakers

Self-report personality tests are used widely, but it is not uncommon for an individual’s scale score to be invalid due to Socially Desirable Responding (SDR): answering to be viewed favourably. Various indices exist to detect SDR (e.g., faking). The Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) formerly was the most popular. The current gold standard is the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR), considered more sensitive because its development incorporated newer theoretical and empirical understanding of SDR and more sophisticated multivariate techniques. We compare the efficacy of these measures with surprising results: the MCSDS consistently outperforms the BIDR in identifying fakers. This finding indicates that the MCSDS should be retained because it captures elements of faking more effectively than the modern scale.     

Using targeted visceroception to improve interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation

Focusing on one's body can improve the awareness and regulation of emotion. Interoception – sensing the physiological condition of the body, particularly of the viscera – appears to play an important role. While the majority of previous research studies have examined interoceptive sensitivity (i.e., detection of objectively measurable physiological changes), there has been relatively limited investigation of interoceptive sensibility (i.e., subjective awareness of those changes), and even fewer studies permitting causal conclusions. The current study is part of a randomised controlled trial on visceroception in the context of emotion regulation, using an 8-week intervention involving focused attention on either cardiac or gastrointestinal activity. Group differences in emotion regulation and reactivity were assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Emotion Reactivity Scale (ERS). The findings suggest that focussed attention on gastrointestinal activity (i.e., gastroception), in particular, improves interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation, as evidenced by increases on the MAIA's Noticing, Body Listening, and Self-regulation subscales, and decreases on the Arousal subscale of the ERS. Gastroception may make distinct contributions to the benefits of body focus in a research context where the gut is often overlooked.     

Utilizing driving simulators for persons with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review

ObjectiveThis scoping review synopsized and mapped the evidence on the utility of driving simulators for drivers with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) including participant characteristics (e.g., demographic, clinical) suited to simulator use; and driving scenario environments, maneuvers, and outcomes reflective of driving performance.Data SourcesThe research team searched six databases for English studies on driving simulator performance in drivers with MS.Study SelectionFour reviewers independently screened 976 unique titles, 148 abstracts, and 18 full-text sources for study inclusion or exclusion. Inclusion criteria ensured that studies utilized measures of driving simulator performance in adults 18 years or older with MS.Data ExtractionReviewers independently charted, verified, and achieved consensus on 100% of the data in the extraction table.Data SynthesisThe scoping review included thirteen studies (twelve assessment, one intervention), published between 2001 and 2021. Studies included small samples (N = 11–50) of adults (M age = 36–50 years; 40–91% female), mostly with a relapsing-remitting (53–100%) diagnosis and low to moderate physical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score < 6.0). The assessment studies utilized driving scenarios to assess pre-driving (n = 1) or driving abilities (n = 2), responses to hazardous events in suburban (n = 1) or urban environments (n = 4), or the ability to maintain speed or lateral lane positioning during monotonous highway drives (n = 7), with four scenarios also including responses to secondary divided attention tasks. The intervention study utilized driving simulation as a training program to improve driving-related skills.ConclusionsThe evidence on the utility of driving simulators for adults with MS is limited to assessment of driving performance, mostly during monotonous highway drives. Further research should consider exploring how driving simulators can be utilized to assess driving performance in other environments or for intervention. Gender should be examined to support gender diverse populations.     

The Grandiose Narcissism Scale: A Global and Facet-Level Measure of Grandiose Narcissism

The Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) is the primary measure of grandiose narcissism (GN) despite possessing numerous limitations. Here we present a new 33-item measure of GN called the Grandiose Narcissism Scale (GNS) that exhibits a reproducible seven-factor structure that maps on to Raskin and Terry’s (1988) seven factor model. GNS subscales exhibit high reliability, with several being substantially more reliable than their NPI counterparts. As a full-scale, the GNS correlates with other variables in a way that is consistent with the theoretical portrait of GN. Additionally, two of the GNS subscales (entitlement, exploitativeness) are shown to uniquely predict independent measures of entitlement and exploitativeness, suggesting good subscale validity. Cumulatively, the GNS represents a viable complement or alternative to the NPI.     

Initial validation of the trust of automated systems test (TOAST)

ABSTRACT

Trust is a key determinant of whether people rely on automated systems in the military and the public. However, there is currently no standard for measuring trust in automated systems. In the present studies, we propose a scale to measure trust in automated systems that is grounded in current research and theory on trust formation, which we refer to as the Trust in Automated Systems Test (TOAST). We evaluated both the reliability of the scale structure and criterion validity using independent, military-affiliated and civilian samples. In both studies we found that the TOAST exhibited a two-factor structure, measuring system understanding and performance (respectively), and that factor scores significantly predicted scores on theoretically related constructs demonstrating clear criterion validity. We discuss the implications of our findings for advancing the empirical literature and in improving interface design.