Adolescent coping scales: a critical psychometric review

Individual coping is identified as an important factor in relation to health and well-being. Although several coping scales have been developed, key terms of coping such as nature and a number of primary and secondary factors (dimensions) are obscure. Coping scales, such as those that have been developed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), have been criticized for poor psychometric properties, yet the critique so far does not evaluate development of the scales against best test-theoretical practice. The present study reviews six adolescent coping scales against ten detailed psychometric criteria in relation to statistical choices throughout the process of scale development. All six scales measured poorly on several criteria. Best practice had not been followed throughout their development and they suffered serious psychometric limitations. These findings indicate that there still is empirical research to be pursued in search of latent constructs and possible dimensions of coping through the implementation of EFA.     

Methodological naturalism and epistemic internalism

Epistemic naturalism holds that the results or methodologies from the cognitive sciences are relevant to epistemology, and some have maintained that scientific methods are more compatible with externalist theories of justification than with internalist theories. But practically all discussions about naturalized epistemology are framed exclusively in terms of cognitive psychology, which is only one of the cognitive sciences. The question addressed in this essay is whether a commitment to naturalism really does favor externalism over internalism, and we offer reasons for thinking that naturalism in epistemology is compatible with both internalist and externalist conceptions of justification. We also argue that there are some distinctively internalist aims that are currently being studied scientifically and these notions, and others, should be studied by scientific methods. This essay is dedicated to Deborah Mayo, who has long advocated using error statistical techniques to analyze and resolve epistemological puzzles in the philosophy of science. This essay follows the same spirit by advocating that computational concepts and techniques be applied within the heart of traditional, analytic epistemology.     

Biological Implications of Gene–Environment Interaction

Gene–environment interaction (G × E) has been treated as both a statistical phenomenon and a biological reality. It is argued that, although there are important statistical issues that need to be considered, the focus has to be on the biological implications of G × E. Four reports of G × E deriving from the Dunedin longitudinal study are used as exemplars of the biological considerations that should lead to an hypothesis-driven choice of the specific genetic polymorphisms and the specific environmental influence to be investigated. The same four studies are used to discuss how the assessment of internal and external validity can be undertaken and how experimental approaches in humans and with animal models may be informative in the elucidation of the relevant operative biological mechanisms.     

BTL—QZ—V1．1气质测试系统的修订

修订BTL-QZ-V1．1气质测试系统。对519名12—21岁男女学生进行了测量。结果发现：神经系统特性具有年龄差异,随年龄增长兴奋性、抑制性增强,灵活性、稳定性增高;12～14岁是其快速增长期,14～18岁为慢速增长期,18岁后为稳定期;神经系统的兴奋性、抑制性具有性别差异,男生强于女生;可将气质类型划分为10种,年龄和性别不影响气质类型的分布;除灵活性外,神经系统兴奋性、抑制性和稳定性的重测信度系数在0．6～0．8之间,且达到显著性水平;以80·8神经类型量表为效标,所得相关系数达中等程度。提示BTL-QZ-V1．1气质测试系统的评定需按年龄和性别分组进行,建立的分组标准较为准确科学,信度、效度较高,可以广泛应用。     

The work-related flow inventory: Construction and initial validation of the WOLF

The WOrk-reLated Flow inventory (WOLF) measures flow at work, defined as a short-term peak experience characterized by absorption, work enjoyment, and intrinsic work motivation. Results of Study 1 among 7 samples of employees (total N = 1346) from different occupational groups offer support for the factorial validity and reliability of the WOLF. Study 2 examined the validity of the WOLF in more detail among some of the samples. Positive correlations between a general flow index and the three flow dimensions confirm the convergent validity of the WOLF. In addition, the findings of Study 2 provide evidence for the construct and predictive validity of the WOLF using five job characteristics as predictors of flow, and other-ratings of performance as outcomes.     

The link between statistical segmentation and word learning in adults

Many studies have shown that listeners can segment words from running speech based on conditional probabilities of syllable transitions, suggesting that this statistical learning could be a foundational component of language learning. However, few studies have shown a direct link between statistical segmentation and word learning. We examined this possible link in adults by following a statistical segmentation exposure phase with an artificial lexicon learning phase. Participants were able to learn all novel object-label pairings, but pairings were learned faster when labels contained high probability (word-like) or non-occurring syllable transitions from the statistical segmentation phase than when they contained low probability (boundary-straddling) syllable transitions. This suggests that, for adults, labels inconsistent with expectations based on statistical learning are harder to learn than consistent or neutral labels. In contrast, a previous study found that infants learn consistent labels, but not inconsistent or neutral labels.     

教师创造性教学行为评价量表的结构

用Cropley编制的"创造性教学行为自评量表"(CFT指标)对321名小学教师进行初测,选取难度在0.20~0.80之间、区分度在0.40以上的28个题项组成"教师创造性教学行为评价量表"。经探索性因素分析,发现该量表由学习方式指导、动机激发、观点评价和鼓励变通4个维度构成。对592份"教师创造性教学行为评价量表"有效数据的验证性因素分析结果表明,该量表有较好的信度和效度,可以用来评价教师的创造性教学行为。     

When a Psychometric Advance Falls in the Forest

Borsboom (2006) attacks psychologists for failing to incorporate psychometric advances in their work, discusses factors that contribute to this regrettable situation, and offers suggestions for ameliorating it. This commentary applauds Borsboom for calling the field to task on this issue and notes additional problems in the field regarding measurement that he could add to his critique. It also chastises Borsboom for occasionally being unnecessarily perjorative in his critique, noting that negative rhetoric is unlikely to make converts of offenders. Finally, it exhorts psychometricians to make their work more accessible and points to Borsboom, Mellenbergh, and Van Heerden (2003) as an excellent example of how this can be done. I wish to thank Frank Schmidt for his help in preparing this paper. Requests for reprints should be sent to la-clark@uiowa.edu.     

目标追求的入世、出世心理测评初探

假设入世、出世心理是相对独立的成分,编制了相应的问卷。探索性因素分析和验证性因素分析表明,入世分量表由“拼搏精神”和“在乎结果”因素组成,出世分量表由“平常心”和“低要求”因素组成。该问卷具有较好的信度和效度。