Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Herth Hope Index in Spanish Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, differential item functioning, factorial invariance, and convergent validity of the Spanish version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) in patients with cancer. METHOD: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale, dimensionality, functioning of items, test for strong measurement invariance across sex, age, tumor site, and expected survival, and an extended structural equation model to assess external validity in a cross-sectional, multicenter, prospective study of 863 cancer patients from 15 Spanish hospitals. RESULTS: The results do not support the original 3-factor scale but instead suggest a one-factor structure, which explained 62% of the common variance. Scores from the unidimensional structure exhibited satisfactory reliability (ω = .88). A strong invariance solution demonstrated excellent fit across sex, age, tumor site, and survival. HHI exhibited substantial associations with resilience coping strategies and spiritual well-being. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study contribute to the diversity of earlier empirical findings regarding the construct of hope. Despite this, our results indicate that the Spanish version of the HHI is a short, easy-to-administer, valid, reliable tool for evaluating cancer patients' levels of hope.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Herth Hope Index in Spanish Cancer Patients / Propiedades Psicométricas y Medida de Invarianza del Índice de Esperanza de Herth en Pacientes Oncológicos Españoles

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, differential item functioning, factorial invariance, and convergent validity of the Spanish version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) in patients with cancer. Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale, dimensionality, functioning of items, test for strong measurement invariance across sex, age, tumor site, and expected survival, and an extended structural equation model to assess external validity in a cross-sectional, multicenter, prospective study of 863 cancer patients from 15 Spanish hospitals. Results: The results do not support the original 3-factor scale but instead suggest a one-factor structure, which explained 62% of the common variance. Scores from the unidimensional structure exhibited satisfactory reliability (ω= .88). A strong invariance solution demonstrated excellent fit across sex, age, tumor site, and survival. HHI exhibited substantial associations with resilience coping strategies and spiritual well-being. Conclusions: The findings of our study contribute to the diversity of earlier empirical findings regarding the construct of hope. Despite this, our results indicate that the Spanish version of the HHI is a short, easy-to-administer, valid, reliable tool for evaluating cancer patients’ levels of hope.(AU)

Antecedentes: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas, el funcionamiento de los ítems, la invariancia factorial y la validez convergente de la versión española del Herth Hope Index (HHI) en pacientes con cáncer. Método: Estudio transversal, multicéntrico, prospectivo de 863 pacientes con cáncer de 15 hospitales españoles. Se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios para explorar la dimensionalidad, el funcionamiento de los ítems, la invariancia de medición según el sexo, la edad, el sitio del tumor y la supervivencia esperada, y la validez externa. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos no respaldan la escala original de 3 factores y en cambio sugieren una estructura de un factor, que explicó el 62% de la varianza común, con una confiabilidad satisfactoria (ω = .88). Una solución de invariancia fuerte demostró un excelente ajuste en función del sexo, la edad, el sitio del tumor y la supervivencia. HHI reveló asociaciones sustanciales con la resiliencia y el bienestar espiritual. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados indican que la versión en español del HHI es una herramienta corta, fácil de administrar, válida y confiable para evaluar el nivel de esperanza de los pacientes con cáncer.(AU)

Gulliksen's pool: A quick tool for preliminary detection of problematic items in item factor analysis.

Exploratory factor analysis is widely used for item analysis in the earlier stages of scale development, usually with large pools of items. In this scenario, the presence of inappropriate or ineffective items can hamper the process of analysis, making it very difficult to correctly assess dimensionality and structure. To minimize, this (quite frequent) problem, we propose and implement a simple procedure designed to flag potentially problematic items before we specify any particular factorial solution. The procedure defines regions of item appropriateness and efficiency based on the combined impact of two prior item features: extremeness and consistency. The general proposal is related to the most widely used frameworks for item analysis. The limits of the appropriateness regions are obtained by extensive simulation in conditions that mimic those found in applications. An Item Response Theory index of prior item efficiency is then defined, and a combined approach for selecting the most effective and problem-free item sub-set is proposed. The proposal is useful to normal-range measures, such as questionnaire surveys that elicit reports about non-extreme attitudes, facts, beliefs or states, or personality questionnaires that measure normal-range constructs. The procedure is implemented in a freeware software.

Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: The Role of Intelligence, the Dark Triad and Dysfunctional Impulsivity.

BACKGROUND: Although measures to prevent COVID-19 infection have been greatly relaxed in many countries, they are still quite stringent in others. However, not all citizens comply with them to the same extent. Many studies show the importance of personality traits in predicting compliance with these measures, but it is not so clear what the role of intelligence is. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether intelligence is related to compliance with these measures, and what its predictive role is when considered together with the dark triad and dysfunctional impulsivity. METHOD: A total of 786 participants answered four questionnaires. We performed correlations, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation analysis. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that psychopathy and dysfunctional impulsivity were the variables that contributed most to compliance, while intelligence contributed very little. The results of the structural equation modelling suggested that intelligence had only an indirect relationship with compliance, through its relationship with the negative personality traits dysfunctional impulsivity and the dark triad. CONCLUSIONS: Intelligence seems to modulate the relationship between negative personality traits and compliance. Therefore, more intelligent people with negative personality traits would not tend to have such low levels of compliance.

Which profile of people tends to ignore preventive measures against COVID-19? The role of intelligence and the big five personality traits.

Although a considerable amount of research has been done on the role of personality traits in the prediction of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures, the possible role of intelligence has been studied far less. For this reason, the main goal of the current study was to determine what the predictive role of intelligence is when considered together with the Big Five personality traits. A total of 404 participants answered three instruments: the Overall Personality Assessment Scale (OPERAS), which assesses personality traits, the COmpliance with pandemic COmmands Scale (COCOS), which assesses compliance, and the test of intelligence International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR Sample Test). The results show that all variables are correlated with compliance, although the weight of emotional stability on compliance was not significant. The only variable negatively related to compliance was extraversion. The results of the structural equation modelling suggest that intelligence has a direct relationship with compliance, and an indirect relationship through openness to experience. According to the results, intelligence is an important variable that should be considered in the prediction of compliance with these preventive measures.

Are older teens more frustrated than younger teens by the covid-19 restrictions? The role of psychological maturity, personality traits, depression and life satisfaction.

Many studies have shown the negative impact of lockdowns on adolescents, but there is less evidence on how they are affected by other stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, especially, whether there are any differences between early and late adolescence. The current study focuses on the frustration felt by adolescents because of the severe COVID-19 restrictions in a non-lockdown situation. We aimed to (a) assess the role of maturity and two personality traits (emotional stability and extraversion) in predicting their frustration, and (b) compare the levels of frustration, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction in older and younger adolescents. The sample of older adolescents was also compared with a paired sample of the same age collected in 2018, before the pandemic. The results suggest that maturity, extraversion and emotional stability are predictors of frustration in both older and younger adolescents, although older adolescents reported higher levels of frustration and depressive symptoms, and lower levels of life satisfaction. Older adolescents also reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than adolescents of the same age before the pandemic. These results show the negative impact of the pandemic, especially on older adolescents, and the important role of maturity and some personality traits in predicting their frustration.

Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: The Role of Intelligence, the Dark Triad and Dysfunctional Impulsivity / Cumplimiento de Medidas Preventivas Asociadas a la COVID-19: El Rol de la Inteligencia, la Triada Oscura y la Impulsividad Disfuncional

Background: Although measures to prevent COVID-19 infection have been greatly relaxed in many countries, theyare still quite stringent in others. However, not all citizens comply with them to the same extent. Many studies showthe importance of personality traits in predicting compliance with these measures, but it is not so clear what the roleof intelligence is. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether intelligence is related to compliance with these measures,and what its predictive role is when considered together with the dark triad and dysfunctional impulsivity. Method:A total of 786 participants answered four questionnaires. We performed correlations, multiple regression analysis,and structural equation analysis. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that psychopathy and dysfunctionalimpulsivity were the variables that contributed most to compliance, while intelligence contributed very little. The resultsof the structural equation modelling suggested that intelligence had only an indirect relationship with compliance,through its relationship with the negative personality traits dysfunctional impulsivity and the dark triad. Conclusions:Intelligence seems to modulate the relationship between negative personality traits and compliance. Therefore, moreintelligent people with negative personality traits would not tend to have such low levels of compliance.(AU)

Antecedentes: Las medidas para controlar la COVID-19 se han relajado en muchos países, pero algunos todavíamantienen medidas estrictas, aunque hay ciudadanos que las incumplen. Muchos estudios muestran la relevancia de losrasgos de personalidad en la predicción del cumplimiento, pero no está tan claro cuál es el rol de la inteligencia. Por eso,los objetivos eran evaluar si la inteligencia está relacionada con el cumplimiento, y cuál es su papel predictivo cuandose considera junto con la tríada oscura y la impulsividad disfuncional. Método: 786 participantes respondieron cuatrocuestionarios. Se realizaron correlaciones, regresión múltiple y análisis de ecuaciones estructurales. Resultados: Elanálisis de regresión mostró que la psicopatía y la impulsividad eran las variables con una mayor contribución, mientrasque la inteligencia contribuía de forma pobre. Los resultados del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales sugieren que lainteligencia tiene una relación indirecta con el cumplimiento, a través de su relación con la impulsividad disfuncionaly la tríada oscura. Conclusiones: La inteligencia parece modular la relación entre los rasgos negativos de personalidady el cumplimiento de las medidas preventivas, por lo que las personas más inteligentes, pero con rasgos negativos depersonalidad, no tenderían a tener niveles tan bajos de cumplimiento.(AU)

Development of a Revised Version of the Statistical Anxiety Scale.

BACKGROUND: Statistics anxiety is a common problem in students taking statistics courses in the social sciences. It is most widely measured by the statistical anxiety scale. The various adaptations of this instrument have shown certain problems in the replication of its factorial structure and do not have a system to control possible response bias effects. The objective of our study was to propose a short test to measure statistical anxiety that also includes a scale to control social desirability bias. METHOD: We developed a revised version of the statistical anxiety scale using procedures for controlling response biases and examined its factorial structure using exploratory and confirmatory analysis in a sample of 531 students. RESULTS: The revised version showed a clear four-factor structure in exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with the expected three content factors plus one social desirability factor. The scales showed no acquiescence effects and moderate social desirability effects, and had a clear relationship with academic success. CONCLUSIONS: The revised version of the statistical anxiety scale improves on the psychometric properties of the original version and may overcome the problems detected in some adaptations of the previous version.

Measurement properties of the Spanish version of the brief resilient coping scale (BRCS) in cancer patients

Background/Objective: Resilience is the capacity to adaptively confront stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, convergent validity, and factorial invariance of the Spanish version of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS).Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses based on a cross-validation were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong (scalar) measurement invariance across gender, age, tumor site, and survival, by fitting multiple-group confirmatory solutions. An extended structural equation model was used to assess external validity. Prospective, multicenter cohort study of 636 patients who completed the BRCS, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Spiritual well‐being (FACIT-sp) scales.Results: The data supported a unidimensional structure. The BRCS is a very short, narrow bandwidth measure, with items demonstrating high discriminating power. A strong invariance solution demonstrated excellent fit across gender, age, tumor site, and survival. Scores derived from the unidimensional structure exhibited satisfactory degrees of reliability (ω = .86) and determinacy (FDI = .94). BRCS revealed substantial associations with satisfaction with life and spirituality well-being (all p < .001), factors widely related to resilience, particularly in cancer patients.Conclusions: The Spanish version of the BRCS is a reliable, valid resilience measure in advanced cancer. (AU)

Measurement properties of the Spanish version of the brief resilient coping scale (BRCS) in cancer patients.

Background/Objective: Resilience is the capacity to adaptively confront stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties, convergent validity, and factorial invariance of the Spanish version of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses based on a cross-validation were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong (scalar) measurement invariance across gender, age, tumor site, and survival, by fitting multiple-group confirmatory solutions. An extended structural equation model was used to assess external validity. Prospective, multicenter cohort study of 636 patients who completed the BRCS, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Spiritual well-being (FACIT-sp) scales. Results: The data supported a unidimensional structure. The BRCS is a very short, narrow bandwidth measure, with items demonstrating high discriminating power. A strong invariance solution demonstrated excellent fit across gender, age, tumor site, and survival. Scores derived from the unidimensional structure exhibited satisfactory degrees of reliability (ω = .86) and determinacy (FDI = .94). BRCS revealed substantial associations with satisfaction with life and spirituality well-being (all p < .001), factors widely related to resilience, particularly in cancer patients. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the BRCS is a reliable, valid resilience measure in advanced cancer.

The Role of Psychological Maturity and the Big Five Personality Traits in the Victimization Through Indirect Aggression.

BACKGROUND: Peer victimization is a problem that affects adolescents worldwide. Since so few studies have been made on the relationship between maturity and indirect peer victimization, the main objective of this study was to determine if maturity provides incremental validity beyond the personality traits when predicting indirect victimization. Another objective was to test a model of how all these variables are related to depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction. METHOD: 548 high school students completed five questionnaires. We performed correlations, multiple regression analysis and structural equation analysis. RESULTS: The hierarchical regression analyses show that maturity has incremental validity in predicting indirect peer victimization. Two personality traits (emotional stability and agreeableness) and two maturity factors (identity and self-reliance) were major predictors of indirect peer victimization. The hierarchical regression analyses also show that major predictors were the same for girls and boys. The Structural Equation Model tested had a good fit, which suggests that indirect victimization increases depressive symptomatology and decreases life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that both personality traits and psychological maturity have to be taken into account when predicting indirect peer victimization. The study also shows the emotional suffering related to this victimization.

Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the numerical rating scale when used with children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) is widely used with Arabic-speaking pediatric populations. However, there is no data about its validity or reliability. Thus, the aims of this research were to translate the NRS-11 into Arabic and study its dimensionality and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity, and reliability. METHODS: A group of 190 Lebanese students between 8 and 18 years old participated. Participants were interviewed online and asked to imagine themselves in a hypothetical painful situation and rate the expected pain intensity using the NRS-11-Arabic and an Arabic version of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-Arabic). They were also requested to respond to the pediatric Arabic version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-Arabic). Data collection lasted for a month. RESULTS: Data showed that the NRS-11-Arabic and the VAS-Arabic scores measure the same common construct. In addition, they showed strong statistically significant correlations between NRS-11 and VAS (ranging from 0.83 for the whole sample and 0.83 and 0.84 for the 8-12-year-olds and the 13-18-year-olds, which support its construct validity). These correlations were higher than those between the NRS-11-Arabic and the PCS-Arabic, which support the discriminant validity of NRS-11-Arabic scores. Test-retest reliability was 0.86 for the whole sample, and 0.89 and 0.82 for the 8-12-year-olds and the 13-18-year-olds, respectively, which shows the reliability of the NRS-11-Arabic scores. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide preliminary evidence of the unidimensionality, validity and reliability of the NRS-11-Arabic scores, thus supporting its use in clinical and research activities involving Arabic-speaking pediatric samples.

[Decalogue for the Factor Analysis of Test Items].

Decalogue for the Factor Analysis of Test Items. BACKGROUND: In the study of the psychometric properties of the items of a test, a fundamental aspect is the analysis of their dimensional structure. The objective of this work is to provide some guidelines that allow the factor analysis of the items to be carried out in a rigorous and systematic way. METHOD: A review of the recent psychometric literature was carried out to identify the fundamental steps to be followed in order to carry out an adequate factor analysis of the items of a test. RESULTS: Ten main recommendations were identified to carry out the factorial analysis of the items of a test: adequacy of the data and the sample, univariate statistics, justification of the analysis, selection of the analyzable items, type of model, most appropriate factorial solution, estimation of the parameters, adequacy of the factorial solution, substantive coherence of the model, and final version of the test. CONCLUSIONS: If the ten recommendations proposed in the current psychometric literature are systematically followed, it will be possible to optimize the quality of the tests and the decision-making based on the estimates of the scores obtained through them. These recommendations should be useful to both researchers and practitioners.

COmpliance with pandemic COmmands Scale (COCOS): The relationship between compliance with COVID-19 measures and sociodemographic and attitudinal variables.

Several studies in different countries have reported that part of the population does not fully comply with the measures recommended to prevent COVID-19, and therefore poses a risk to public health. For this reason, several measures have been developed to assess the level of compliance, although many of them have methodological limitations or do not include a comprehensive set of items. The main goal of the current study was to develop a new instrument with suitable psychometric properties, which includes a more complete set of items and controls the impact of acquiescence bias. The participants were 1410 individuals (59.2% women) from Spain, who answered the new questionnaire and several items on sociodemographic and attitudinal issues. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out, and the results suggested that only one content factor was underlying the data. This solution was replicated in a different subsample, which shows the stability of the solution. Furthermore, the relationships between the scores of the new questionnaire and the sociodemographic and attitudinal variables are similar to those obtained in previous studies, which can be regarded as evidence of the validity of the new questionnaire.

Decálogo para el Análisis Factorial de los Ítems de un Test / Decalogue for the Factor Analysis of Test Items

Antecedentes: en el estudio de las propiedades psicométricas de los ítemsde un test un aspecto fundamental es el análisis de su estructura. El objetivodel presente trabajo es dar unas pautas que permitan llevar a cabo el análisisfactorial de los ítems de una forma rigurosa y sistemática. Método:se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura reciente para identifi car lospasos fundamentales que se han de seguir para llevar a cabo un análisisfactorial adecuado de los ítems de un test. Resultados: se identifi carondiez recomendaciones principales para llevar a cabo el análisis factorialde los ítems de un test: adecuación de los datos y la muestra, estadísticosunivariados, justifi cación del análisis, selección de los ítems analizables,tipo de modelo, solución más apropiada, estimación de los parámetros,adecuación de la solución factorial, coherencia sustantiva del modelo yversión fi nal del test. Conclusión: si se siguen de forma sistemática las diezrecomendaciones propuestas, se conseguirá optimizar la calidad de los testy la toma de decisiones basadas en las estimaciones de las puntuacionesobtenidas mediante los mismos. Estas directrices son recomendablestanto en el ámbito de la investigación como en contextos más aplicadosy profesionales.

Background: In the studyof the psychometric properties of the items of a test, a fundamental aspectis the analysis of their dimensional structure. The objective of this workis to provide some guidelines that allow the factor analysis of the items tobe carried out in a rigorous and systematic way. Method: A review of therecent psychometric literature was carried out to identify the fundamentalsteps to be followed in order to carry out an adequate factor analysis ofthe items of a test. Results: Ten main recommendations were identifi ed tocarry out the factorial analysis of the items of a test: adequacy of the dataand the sample, univariate statistics, justifi cation of the analysis, selectionof the analyzable items, type of model, most appropriate factorial solution,estimation of the parameters, adequacy of the factorial solution, substantivecoherence of the model, and fi nal version of the test. Conclusions: If theten recommendations proposed in the current psychometric literature aresystematically followed, it will be possible to optimize the quality of thetests and the decision-making based on the estimates of the scores obtainedthrough them. These recommendations should be useful to both researchersand practitioners.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the internal structure of the EORTC QLQ-C30, to examine the validity and normative data for cancer patients. METHOD: Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the scale's dimensionality and test for strong measurement invariance across sex and tumor site. All the analyses were based on a multicenter cohort of 931 patients who completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and the EORTC QLQ-C30. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that the EORTC QLQ-C30 has acceptable psychometric properties and an internal structure that is well accounted for a bifactor model: a general factor that evaluates quality of life and a group factor that would analyze physical health that would be defined by physical function, role function, and fatigue. The result of the multi-group CFA revealed a strong invariance according to sex, tumor, and over time. Reliability of the EORTC exceeding 0.86 and the simple sum of the items of the scale was a good indicator of oncology patients' quality of life. Both factors correlate closely with depression, anxiety, and psychological distress and are sensitive to change, especially the quality of life, with a significant decrease in the post-test. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 proved to be a valid, reliable instrument to appraise quality of life in cancer patients. The normative data collected from this study may be useful for the early detection of initial symptoms of deterioration of quality of life in oncology patients.

The Role of Psychological Maturity and the Big Five Personality Traits in the Victimization Through Indirect aggression / El Papel de la Madurez Psicológica y los Cinco Grandes Factores dePersonalidad en la Victimización Mediante Agresiones Indirectas

Background: Peer victimization is a problem that affects adolescentsworldwide. Since so few studies have been made on the relationshipbetween maturity and indirect peer victimization, the main objective ofthis study was to determine if maturity provides incremental validitybeyond the personality traits when predicting indirect victimization.Another objective was to test a model of how all these variables are relatedto depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction. Method: 548 highschool students completed five questionnaires. We performed correlations,multiple regression analysis and structural equation analysis. Results:The hierarchical regression analyses show that maturity has incrementalvalidity in predicting indirect peer victimization. Two personality traits(emotional stability and agreeableness) and two maturity factors (identityand self-reliance) were major predictors of indirect peer victimization.The hierarchical regression analyses also show that major predictors werethe same for girls and boys. The Structural Equation Model tested had agood fit, which suggests that indirect victimization increases depressivesymptomatology and decreases life satisfaction. Conclusions: The resultssuggest that both personality traits and psychological maturity have to betaken into account when predicting indirect peer victimization. The studyalso shows the emotional suffering related to this victimization

Antecedentes: la victimización a través de agresiones indirectas es unproblema que sufren adolescentes de todo el mundo. Dado que se hanrealizado pocos estudios sobre la relación entre madurez y victimizaciónindirecta, el principal objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar la validezincremental de la madurez en la predicción de la victimización, más allá dela predicha por los rasgos de personalidad. Otro objetivo es evaluar cómose relacionan estas variables con la depresión y la satisfacción con la vida.Método: 548 adolescentes contestaron cinco cuestionarios. Se realizaroncorrelaciones, análisis de regresión y análisis de ecuaciones estructurales.Resultados: las regresiones jerárquicas muestran que la madurez tienevalidez incremental en la predicción de la victimización indirecta. Dosrasgos de personalidad (estabilidad emocional y amabilidad) y dos factoresde madurez (identidad y autonomía) son los principales predictores enambos sexos. El modelo de educaciones estructurales evaluado presenta unbuen ajuste, lo que sugiere que la victimización aumenta la sintomatologíadepresiva y disminuye la satisfacción con la vida. Conclusiones: tanto losrasgos de personalidad como la madurez psicológica se han de tener encuenta para la predicción de la victimización indirecta. El estudio tambiénmuestra el sufrimiento relacionado con esta victimización

Is Correcting for Acquiescence Increasing the External Validity of Personality Test Scores?

BACKGROUND: Balanced scales control for acquiescence (ACQ) because the tendency of the respondent to agree with the positive items is cancelled out by the tendency to agree with opposite-pole items. When full balance is achieved, ACQ is not expected to affect external validity. Otherwise, attenuated estimates are expected to appear if no control methods such as Lorenzo-Seva & Ferrando's (2009) are used. METHOD: Expected results were derived analytically. Subsequently, a simulation was carried out to assess (a) how ACQ impacted external validity and (b) how validity estimates behaved when ACQ was corrected. Two illustrative examples are provided. RESULTS: A sizable number of items and/or high content loadings tended to decrease ACQ's impact on validity estimates, making the empirical coefficient closer to its structural value. Furthermore, when scales were well balanced, the controlled and uncorrected scores were close to each other, and led to unbiased validity estimates. When the scales were unbalanced and no corrections were used, attenuated empirical validity coefficients inevitably appeared. CONCLUSIONS: Designing a well-balanced test or correcting for ACQ are the best ways to minimize attenuation in external validity estimation.

A Multidimensional Item Response Theory Model for Continuous and Graded Responses With Error in Persons and Items.

Item response theory "dual" models (DMs) in which both items and individuals are viewed as sources of differential measurement error so far have been proposed only for unidimensional measures. This article proposes two multidimensional extensions of existing DMs: the M-DTCRM (dual Thurstonian continuous response model), intended for (approximately) continuous responses, and the M-DTGRM (dual Thurstonian graded response model), intended for ordered-categorical responses (including binary). A rationale for the extension to the multiple-content-dimensions case, which is based on the concept of the multidimensional location index, is first proposed and discussed. Then, the models are described using both the factor-analytic and the item response theory parameterizations. Procedures for (a) calibrating the items, (b) scoring individuals, (c) assessing model appropriateness, and (d) assessing measurement precision are finally discussed. The simulation results suggest that the proposal is quite feasible, and an illustrative example based on personality data is also provided. The proposals are submitted to be of particular interest for the case of multidimensional questionnaires in which the number of items per scale would not be enough for arriving at stable estimates if the existing unidimensional DMs were fitted on a separate-scale basis.

Balancing typological and dimensional approaches: Assessment of adult attachment styles with Factor Mixture Analysis.

Many studies show the importance of adult attachment styles and their impact on social and emotional adaptation in adulthood. However, there is no agreement about whether attachment should be regarded as typological or dimensional, and some authors have proposed reconciling both options, so that adult attachment styles can be assessed more accurately and realistically. In this study we have adopted this comprehensive view and used Factor Mixture Analysis, the most appropriate model for assessing this mixture view. More specifically, we attempted to determine the nature and types (if any) of attachment styles that can be assessed with the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (CAA), using this mixture view. A total of 515 adults from Spain took part, with ages between 18 and 56 years old. In addition to the CAA questionnaire, they completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and the emotional stability subscale of the Overall Personality Assessment Scale. On the basis of the CAA scores, the results show that only two profiles-insecure attachment and normal-range-can be univocally differentiated. Furthermore, the results of a full multiple-group structural model show that each of these profiles has a different pattern of validity relations with the external variables maternal care, maternal overprotection and emotional stability. These differential validity results reinforce the general hypothesis that two differentiated clusters of individuals can be distinguished on the basis of the responses to the CAA items.