Development of a computerized adaptive test to assess entrepreneurial personality.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Entrepreneurial behavior is of great importance nowadays owing to its significance in the generation of economic, social, personal, and cultural wellbeing. This behavior is influenced by cognitive and personality characteristics, as well as by socioeconomic and contextual factors. Entrepreneurial personality is made up of a set of psychological traits including self-efficacy, autonomy, innovation, internal locus of control, achievement motivation, optimism, stress tolerance, and risk-taking. The aim of this research is the development of a computerized adaptive test (CAT) to evaluate entrepreneurial personality. METHOD: A bank of 120 items was created evaluating various aspects of the entrepreneurial personality. The items were calibrated with the Samejima Graded Response Model using a sample of 1170 participants (Mage = 42.34; SDage = 12.96). RESULTS: The bank of items had an essentially unidimensional fit to the model. The CAT exhibited high accuracy for evaluating a wide range of θ scores, using a mean of 16 items with a very low standard error (M = 0.157). Relative validity evidence for the CAT was obtained with two additional tests of entrepreneurial personality (the Battery for the Assessment of the Enterprising Personality and the Measure of Enterpreneurial Tendencies and Abilities), with correlations of .908 and .657, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CAT developed has appropriate psychometric properties for the evaluation of entrepreneurial people.

Development of a computerized adaptive test to assess entrepreneurial personality

Abstract Background/objective Entrepreneurial behavior is of great importance nowadays owing to its significance in the generation of economic, social, personal, and cultural wellbeing. This behavior is influenced by cognitive and personality characteristics, as well as by socioeconomic and contextual factors. Entrepreneurial personality is made up of a set of psychological traits including self-efficacy, autonomy, innovation, internal locus of control, achievement motivation, optimism, stress tolerance, and risk-taking. The aim of this research is the development of a computerized adaptive test (CAT) to evaluate entrepreneurial personality.Method: A bank of 120 items was created evaluating various aspects of the entrepreneurial personality. The items were calibrated with the Samejima Graded Response Model using a sample of 1170 participants (Mage = 42.34; SDage = 12.96). Results The bank of items had an essentially unidimensional fit to the model. The CAT exhibited high accuracy for evaluating a wide range of θ scores, using a mean of 16 items with a very low standard error (M = 0.157). Relative validity evidence for the CAT was obtained with two additional tests of entrepreneurial personality (the Battery for the Assessment of the Enterprising Personality and the Measure of Enterpreneurial Tendencies and Abilities), with correlations of .908 and .657, respectively. Conclusions The CAT developed has appropriate psychometric properties for the evaluation of entrepreneurial people.

Bifactorial Structure of Locus of Control Cross-culturally Invariant across Spain, Chile and United Kingdom

Locus of control (LOC) is a variable often studied owing to the important role that it plays in different contexts. Nonetheless, there is no unanimous agreement about how many dimensions make up the factorial structure of the locus of control. The goal of this research was to add new evidence of cross-cultural validity in relation to the bifactorial invariance of the LOC. The test was given to a total of 1781 participants from Spain (697), Chile (890) and The United Kingdom (194). The study of the factorial invariance between the groups was carried out using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis models for ordered-categorical data. The progressive evaluation of factorial invariance confirms that factor loadings, thresholds and error variances are invariant across groups. Relevant cross-cultural differences in LOC between Spain, Chile, and United Kingdom were not found (PS < .50).

El locus de control (LOC) es una variable frecuentemente evaluada debido a que juega un importante papel en diferentes contextos. Sin embargo, no existe un acuerdo unánime sobre cuántas dimensiones componen la estructura factorial del locus de control. El objetivo de esta investigación fue añadir nuevas evidencias de validez transcultural en relación con la invarianza bifactorial del LOC. El test fue aplicado a un total de 1781 participantes procedentes de España (697), Chile (890) y Reino Unido (194). El estudio de la invarianza factorial entre los grupos se realizó utilizando modelos de análisis factorial confirmatorio multigrupo para datos categóricamente ordenados. La evaluación progresiva de la invarianza factorial confirma que las cargas factoriales, los umbrables, y las varianzas de los errores son invariantes a través de los grupos. Finalmente, no se encontraron diferencias transculturales relevantes en LOC entre España, Chile y Reino Unido (PS < .50).

Cuestionario para la evaluación del optimismo: fiabilidad y evidencias de validez / Questionnaire for the assessment of optimism: reliability and evidence of validity

El optimismo ha mostrado numerosos beneficios físicos y emocionales en diversas poblaciones y contextos profesionales. Sin embargo, los instrumentos para evaluarlo son escasos y presentan importantes limitaciones, especialmente en población joven. En el presente trabajo se presenta un cuestionario que, mediante 9 ítems, evalúa el optimismo disposicional y se analiza su relación con la personalidad e inteligencia emocional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 2.693 jóvenes españoles (M=16.52, DT=1.38), de los cuales el 51.10 por ciento fueron hombres. La inteligencia emocional se evaluó con el cuestionario Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24, mientras que los cinco grandes rasgos de personalidad se midieron mediante la escala Overall Personality Assessment Scale. El cuestionario de optimismo muestra una fiabilidad elevada (alfa=.84), siendo preciso para un amplio rango de habilidad (zeta entre -3 y +2), así como un ajuste aceptable a una estructura unidimensional. Se confirma la elevada relación entre el optimismo y los rasgos de personalidad e inteligencia emocional.

Optimism has been shown to have numerous physical and emotional benefits in a range of populations and professional contexts. Nonetheless, there are few instruments for its evaluation and they have significant limitations, especially in young people. This work presents a questionnaire which, through 9 items, evaluates dispositional optimism and analyses its relationship to personality and emotional intelligence. The sample was made up of 2,963 Spanish adolescents of whom 51.10 percent were male. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24, while the big-five personality traits were measured using the Overall Personality Assessment Scale. The optimism questionnaire demonstrated high reliability (alpha=.84), it was accurate over a wide ability range (theta from -3 to +2) and gave an acceptable fit to a unidimensional structure. The clear relationship between optimism, personality traits and emotional intelligence was confirmed.

Pruebas de bondad de ajuste en distribuciones simétricas, ¿qué estadístico utilizar? / Goodness of Fit Tests for Symmetric Distributions, which Statistical Should I Use?

El uso de pruebas no paramétricas resulta recomendable cuando los datos a analizar no cumplen los supuestos de normalidad y homocedasticidad. Sin embargo, la suposición de la normalidad de los datos o el empleo de pruebas de bondad de ajuste que no son adecuadas para el tamaño muestral empleado son aspectos habituales. Este hecho implica, en muchas ocasiones, el uso de pruebas estadísticas no ajustadas al tipo de distribución real y, consecuentemente, el establecimiento de conclusiones erróneas. Por ello, en el presente estudio se ha analizado el poder de detección de cinco pruebas de bondad de ajuste (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kolmogorov-Smirnov-Lilliefors, Shapiro-Wilk, Anderson-Darling y Jarque-Bera) en distribuciones simétricas con seis tamaños muestrales entre 30 y 1000 participantes generados mediante una simulación Monte Carlo. Los resultados muestran una tendencia conservadora generalizada a medida que se incrementa el tamaño muestral. En cuanto a los tamaños muestrales, las pruebas con un mejor poder de detección de la no normalidad son Kolmogorov-Smirnov-Lilliefors y Anderson-Darling para muestra pequeñas, la prueba de Kolmogorov-Smirnov si se emplean tamaños muestrales medios (200 participantes) y la prueba de Shapiro-Wilk cuando se analizan muestras superiores a 500 participantes. Además, la prueba clásica de Kolmogorov-Smirnov se considera absolutamente ineficaz independientemente del tamaño muestral.

The use of nonparametric tests is recommended when the data do not meet the assumptions of normality and homoscedasticity. However, the assumptions of normality of the data or the use of goodness of fit tests that are not appropriate for the assessed sample are common aspects. In many cases, this implies the use of statistical tests unadjusted for the real data distribution and, consequently, the establishment of inaccurate conclusions. Therefore, in this paper the detection power of five tests of goodness of fit (Kolmogorov-Smirnov-Lilliefors, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Anderson-Darling and Jarque -Bera) in symmetric distributions is analysed in six sample sizes between 30 and 1000 participants generated by Monte Carlo simulation. Results show a marked conservative tendency as the sample size becomes larger. Regarding sample sizes to detect non-normality: analysing small samples the best results are provided by Kolmogorov-Smirnov-Lilliefors and Anderson-Darling tests, if the sample is medium-sized (200 participants) the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and when samples are over 500 participants the Shapiro-Wilk test is recommended. In addition, the classic test of Kolmogorov-Smirnov is considered absolutely ineffective regardless the sample size.

Estudio del síndrome de burnout en deportistas: prevalência y relación con el esquema corporal / A Study of the Burnout Syndrome in Sportspeople: Prevalence and Relationship to the Body Image

Recientemente, se han descubierto diferentes variables psicológicas tanto generadoras como potenciadoras del síndrome de burnout. A esto, hay que añadir la alta prevalencia del síndrome en deportistas a nivel internacional. El objetivo del trabajo ha sido establecer la prevalencia del síndrome en población deportista española, así como analizar su relación con la percepción del esquema corporal. En el estudio han participado 397 deportistas (59.8% hombres) de entre 13 y 64 años (M = 19.23 y DE = 6.67) de diferentes modalidades deportivas (35% deportes individuales). Los resultados muestran una prevalencia del síndrome de burnout en el contexto deportivo nacional de 2.77%, así como la existencia de una relación entre el síndrome y una percepción negativa del esquema corporal, especialmente con las dimensiones de devaluación (r xy = 0.336) y realización personal (r xy = 0.44). Además, mediante ecuaciones estructurales, la percepción corporal negativa puede considerarse una consecuencia psicológica añadida a las derivadas del propio síndrome.

Different psychological variables have recently been discovered as enablers of the burnout syndrome. Moreover, it must be added the high prevalence rates of the syndrome on international sportspeople. The aim of the paper was to establish the prevalence rate of the syndrome in the Spanish sportspeople and to analyze its relationship with the perception of body image. 397 sportspeople took part in the research (59.8% men) aged between 13 and 64 years old (M = 19.23 and SD = 6.67) of different sports (35% individual sports). The results show a prevalence rate of burnout syndrome in the context of national sports 2.77% and the existence of a relationship between the syndrome and a negative body image perception, especially with the dimensions of devaluation ( r xy = 0.336) and reduced sense of accomplishment (r xy = 0.44). Moreover, using SEM, negative body image could be proposed as a psychological consequence added to those derived from the syndrome itself.