Is it quality, is it redundancy, or is model inadequacy? Some strategies for judging the ap-propriateness of high-discrimination items / ¿Es calidad, redundancia o inadecuación del modelo? Algunas estrategias para determinar la idoneidad de los ítems altamente discriminativos

Cuando se desarrollan nuevos cuestionarios, tradicionalmente se asume que los ítems deben ser lo más discriminativos posible, como si esto fuera siempre indicativo de su calidad. Pero en algunos casos estas discriminaciones elevadas pueden estar ocultando algunos problemas como redundancias, residuales compartidos, distribuciones sesgadas o limitaciones del modelo que pueden contribuir a inflar las estimaciones de la discriminación. Por lo tanto, la inspección de estos índices puede llevar a decisiones erróneas sobre qué ítems mantener o eliminar. Para ilustrar este problema, se describen dos escenarios diferentes con datos reales. El primero se centra en un cuestionario que contiene un ítem aparentemente muy discriminante, pero redundante. El segundo se centra en un cuestionario clínico administrado a una muestra comunitaria, lo que da lugar a distribuciones de respuesta de los ítems muy sesgadas y a índices de discriminación inflados, a pesar de que los ítems no discriminan bien entre la mayoría de los sujetos. Proponemos algunas estrategias y comprobaciones para identificar estas situaciones, para facilitar la identificación y eliminación de los ítems inapropiados. Por lo tanto, este artículo pretende promover una actitud crítica, que puede implicar ir en contra de los principios rutinarios establecidos cuando no son apropiados.(AU)

When developing new questionnaires, it is traditionally assumed that the items should be as discriminative as possible, as if this was always indicative of their quality. However, in some cases these high discrimina-tions may be masking some problems such as redundancies, shared residu-als, biased distributions, or model limitations which may contribute to in-flate the discrimination estimates. Therefore, the inspection of these indi-ces may lead to erroneous decisions about which items to keep or elimi-nate. Toillustrate this problem, two different scenarios with real data are described. The first focuses on a questionnaire that contains an item ap-parently highly discriminant, but redundant. The second focuses on a clini-cal questionnaire administered to a community sample, which gives place to highly right-skewed item response distributions and inflated discrimi-nant indices, despite the items do not discriminate well among the majority of participants. We propose some strategies and checks to identify these situations, so that the items that are inappropriate may be identified and removed. Therefore, this article seeks to promote a critical attitude, which may involve going against routine stablished principles when they are not appropriate.(AU)

Educational agents and institutions called into action in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Introduction: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the 15 to 29 age group worldwide, and is a severe public health problem. Adolescent and young adult individuals attend educational institutions which can play an essential role in detecting and preventing suicide. For this reason, the purpose of this research is to identify what educational institutions and agents are called into action in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Methods: The method of systematic review of the literature based on the PRISMA protocol was used. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020189127). The systematic review yielded 66 articles published between 1990 and February 2023. Results: The results show that a wide variety of educational stakeholders are required to intervene for suicide prevention, interventions and postvention between primary education and college. The study describes the different programs that have been provided, the countries in which they have been implemented and the agents who have been targeted. It also identifies gaps in the research on suicide in the educational field. Discussion: Overall, educational suicide initiatives report positive effects on participants' understanding, attitudes, and beliefs regarding suicide and suicide prevention, although some studies have expressed some caution.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the academic help seeking scale in a sample of adults.

Although academic help-seeking is an important variable in the academic context, as it is related to academic achievement, college adjustment and teacher support, among other variables, no instruments evaluate it in the Spanish adult population. The main goal of the current study was to develop an adaptation of the Academic Help-Seeking Scale for the Spanish adult population with suitable psychometric properties. The sample consisted of 536 adults with an average age of 24.98 (SD = 8.55). The exploratory factor analysis in the first half of the sample suggested that only one factor was underlying the data, and the confirmatory factor analysis in the second half showed that the factor structure replicated in a different sample. The results suggest that this adaptation has appropriate psychometric properties, and adequate reliability and convergent validity. We also found the expected relationships with gender and academic achievement. Therefore, this instrument may be useful for researchers and education professionals who need to assess this behaviour in adults so that they can help them improve their academic performance. The study also contributes to a better understanding of academic help-seeking as an adaptative learning strategy and the variables it is related to.

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.

Psychological Issues Among Spanish Adolescents and Young People when Coming out of the Closet to Their Families.

Some social settings may make the process of "coming out" more difficult for gay males and lesbian females, and the decision to do so may be even more problematic for adolescents and young people. As a result, some may choose to hide their sexual orientation, leading to emotional suffering. This study aims to analyze the differences in perceived stress, life satisfaction, happiness, and psychological distress experienced by both coming out and closeted young people and teens. The sample included a total of 228 Spanish young people aged 16-23 years old (M = 19.69, SD = 1.81) who identified themselves as gay or lesbian (73.2% women). The results of this study show that people in the closet show greater psychological distress (anxiety and depressive symptomatology) and perceived stress. Although perceived stress is positively related to psychological distress in both groups, the correlation is higher in the closeted group. This suggests that perceived stress has more serious consequences on the mental health of the closeted group than of the "coming out" group. To sum up, the results show the importance of family support for gay and lesbian young people.

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)

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.

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.

Spanish Adaptation of the Family Involvement Questionnaire - High School: Version for Parents / La adaptación española del Cuestionario de Implicación Familiar - bachillerato: versión para padres

Many studies highlight the importance of parental involvement in the academic performance of children and adolescents across subject areas. In view of the lack of instruments in Spain to assess family involvement of parents of adolescents, we undertook this study to develop the Spanish adaptation of the Family Involvement Questionnaire - High School version (FIQ-HS). The sample consisted of 928 parents (85.7 % females) with adolescent sons and daughters. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses substantiated the expected three-factor structure (home-school communication, school-based activities, and home-based activities), though seven poorly functioning items were removed. The results show that this instrument has adequate psychometric properties, good reliability, and convergence with another measure of family adaptability and cohesion. Therefore, the FIQ-HS is adequate for the assessment of family involvement in Spanish parents. (AU)

Muchos estudios subrayan la importancia de la implicación familiar en el rendimiento académico de niños y adolescentes en diferentes materias. Teniendo en cuenta la falta de instrumentos en España para evaluar la implicación familiar de los padres de adolescentes, se ha llevado a cabo este estudio para desarrollar una adaptación española del instrumento Family Involvement Questionnaire - High School version (FIQ-HS). La muestra constó de 928 padres (85.7% mujeres) con hijos e hijas adolescentes. Los análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio confirmaron la estructura esperada de tres factores (comunicación hogar-escuela, actividades basadas en la escuela y actividades basadas en el hogar), aunque se eliminaron siete ítems que presentaban mal funcionamiento. Los resultados muestran que este instrumento presenta unas adecuadas propiedades psicométricas, buena fiabilidad y convergencia con otra medida de adaptabilidad familiar y cohesión. Por lo tanto, el FIQ-HS es adecuado para evaluar la implicación familiar de los padres españoles. (AU)

Transphobia and Gender Bashing in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: The Role of Individual Differences and Psychosocial Variables.

Although research in recent years has revealed widespread discrimination against transgender people, few studies have addressed the attitudes of those who discriminate. In fact, although studies report that bullying is very common in adolescence, little is known about the attitudes of adolescents towards transgender people. This study aimed to determine the roles of social reputation, family socialisation, the big five personality traits and aggressiveness in transphobia and gender bashing among adolescents. The sample consisted of 479 students (50.1% boys) aged 14-19 (M = 15.04; SD = 1.06). The results revealed that transphobia and gender bashing were significantly related to the study variables. Specifically, the results showed that transphobia is largely predicted by variables of the type related to affect and personality, while gender bashing is largely related to variables of a social and reputational nature. Similarly, differences were found between genders, with boys having significantly higher scores than girls for transphobia and gender bashing, as well as specificity of predictors. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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

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.

Psychological Variables Related to Adaptation to the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain.

Recent studies show that quarantine and lockdown are effective measures for controlling COVID-19 outbreaks, but may be an unpleasant experience with psychological consequences. For this reason, the main aim of this study was to determine which personal sociodemographic and psychological variables are related to adapting to lockdown in a Spanish population. Questionnaires were administered to 2,055 individuals (60.7% women) who were resident in Spain and aged between 18 and 80 years old. We also administered some items related to feelings and behaviors during lockdown. The results showed that sex and age are variables to be taken into account. In fact, women tended to show greater stress, a more pessimistic attitude, and lower self-esteem. However, older people adapted better to lockdown although they were also more worried. Married people also adapted better although they too were more worried. The results also showed that more resilient people, with higher subjective happiness and life satisfaction, develop strategies for adapting positively to adversity, and tend to adapt better to lockdown, with more positive attitudes and behaviors. In terms of personality traits, higher neuroticism and lower extraversion were related to worse adaptation to lockdown. This study also showed that lockdown has had a negative psychological impact on those people who did not adapt well to the situation and the changes during the first 4 weeks of lockdown.

INCA-M: Mexican Adaptation of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Antisocial Behavior.

Callous-unemotional traits are considered to be precursors of psychopathy, and are related to behaviors such as aggression, delinquency, antisocial behavior, and bullying in adolescents. For this reason, it is important to study these traits in childhood and adolescence with appropriate and reliable instruments. The aim of the current study is to develop a Mexican adaptation of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Antisocial Behavior (INCA) because few questionnaires in Spanish assess these traits, and even fewer have been validated for the Mexican population. The INCA questionnaire, developed in Spain, assesses the same three factors as the ICU questionnaire (unemotional, callousness, and uncaring), and it includes an additional factor of antisocial behavior with items on challenging authority and breaking social rules. It controls two response biases: social desirability and acquiescence. We administered the Mexican adaptation, named INCA-M, to 699 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years old. Factor analysis yielded three dimensions, because most of the items referring to uncaring and antisocial behavior loaded on a common factor, which can be explained by cultural differences. We decided to remove these items of antisocial behavior so as to maintain the same three factors assessed by the ICU questionnaire. The results suggest that the INCA-M has good psychometric properties, with high factor simplicity and good reliability. Moreover, we found the expected correlations with impulsivity and the Big Five subscales, and also with the equivalent subscales assessed by the ICU questionnaire.

Predicting academic achievement in adolescents: the role of maturity, intelligence and personality / Predicción del rendimiento académico en adolescentes: el papel de la madurez, la inteligencia y la personalidad

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have examined whether the degree of adolescents' maturity has any effect on their academic performance. Moreover, there are no studies that show whether maturity explains variance additional to that explained by intelligence and personality. For this reason, the main aim of the current study was to determine how psychological maturity, the Big Five personality traits and mental aptitudes contribute to the prediction of adolescent academic performance. METHOD: 305 adolescents took part in the study. We performed correlations, multiple regression analysis and structural equation analysis. RESULTS: As expected, results show that the main predictor is intelligence. The results also show that there is a relationship between psychological maturity and academic performance, although this is due only to the work orientation subscale. Moreover, conscientiousness influences academic performance because of its relation to the maturity factor work orientation. Likewise, openness to experience is also indirectly related to academic performance, due to its relationship with intelligence. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that psychological maturity is related to academic performance. Only two personality traits are correlated to academic performance, conscientiousness and openness to experience, although these traits do not have direct relationships with academic performance

ANTECEDENTES: se han realizado muy pocos estudios sobre la posible influencia de la madurez sobre el rendimiento académico. Además, no hay estudios que muestren si la madurez explica varianza adicional a la explicada por la inteligencia y la personalidad. Por ello, el principal objetivo de este estudio es determinar cómo la madurez, los Cinco Grandes y las aptitudes mentales contribuyen a la predicción del rendimiento académico en adolescentes. MÉTODO: la muestra está formada por 305 adolescentes. Calculamos correlaciones, análisis de regresión múltiple y ecuaciones estructurales. RESULTADOS: como se esperaba, los resultados muestran que el principal predictor es la inteligencia. Se obtuvo una relación entre madurez y rendimiento académico, que se debe únicamente a la subescala orientación al trabajo. Por otra parte, la responsabilidad influye sobre el rendimiento académico a través de su relación con el factor de madurez orientación al trabajo. Apertura a la experiencia también está indirectamente relacionado con el rendimiento académico, debido a su relación con la inteligencia. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados sugieren que la madurez psicológica está relacionada con el rendimiento académico. Solo dos rasgos de personalidad correlacionaron con el rendimiento (responsabilidad y apertura a la experiencia), aunque sus relaciones no son directas

To reverse or to not reverse likert-type items: that is the question / Invertir o no invertir ítems tipo Likert: esa es la cuestión

BACKGROUND: The suitability of using reversed items in typical response measures has been a matter of controversy for many years. While some authors recommend their use, others reject them due to their undesirable effects on tests' psychometric properties. The present research intends to analyse a third alternative based on the use of reversed items plus a procedure to control response bias effects. METHOD: We analysed two forms of the same test, one with direct and reversed items and another composed only of direct items, and compared them both before and after applying a procedure to control response biases. RESULTS: The factorial structure and factorial reliability of both versions was almost equivalent after controlling response biases. When no effect biases were controlled, the version with both types of items exhibited less acceptable psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS: The use of reversed items is not advisable without the application of a procedure to control response bias effects. When such effects are mitigated, the results are equivalent to those obtained with only direct items, but with the added value of controlling for acquiescence effects

ANTECEDENTES: la utilización de ítems invertidos en medidas de respuesta típica ha sido durante mucho tiempo una cuestión controvertida. Mientras algunos autores aconsejan su utilización, otros la rechazan debido a sus efectos indeseables en las propiedades psicométricas de las medidas. El presente estudio pretende analizar una tercera vía, basada en el uso de ítems invertidos juntamente con un método para eliminar los efectos de los sesgos de respuesta. MÉTODO: se analizaron dos versiones de una misma prueba, una incorporando ítems directos e invertidos y otra compuesta únicamente de ítems directos. Posteriormente se compararon ambas versiones antes y después de controlar los efectos de los sesgos de respuesta. RESULTADOS: la estructura factorial y la fiabilidad de las puntuaciones factoriales de ambas versiones tras eliminar los efectos de los sesgos de respuesta fue equivalente, mientras que la versión con ambos tipos de ítems sin control de sesgos mostró peores propiedades psicométricas. CONCLUSIONES: la utilización de ítems revertidos sin la aplicación de un método de control de sesgos está claramente desaconsejada. Cuando dichos métodos se utilizan los resultados de ambas versiones son equivalentes con el añadido que en la versión con ítems revertidos se controlan los efectos de aquiescencia

Predicting academic achievement in adolescents: The role of maturity, intelligence and personality.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have examined whether the degree of adolescents' maturity has any effect on their academic performance. Moreover, there are no studies that show whether maturity explains variance additional to that explained by intelligence and personality. For this reason, the main aim of the current study was to determine how psychological maturity, the Big Five personality traits and mental aptitudes contribute to the prediction of adolescent academic performance. METHOD: 305 adolescents took part in the study. We performed correlations, multiple regression analysis and structural equation analysis. RESULTS: As expected, results show that the main predictor is intelligence. The results also show that there is a relationship between psychological maturity and academic performance, although this is due only to the work orientation subscale. Moreover, conscientiousness influences academic performance because of its relation to the maturity factor work orientation. Likewise, openness to experience is also indirectly related to academic performance, due to its relationship with intelligence. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that psychological maturity is related to academic performance. Only two personality traits are correlated to academic performance, conscientiousness and openness to experience, although these traits do not have direct relationships with academic performance.

To reverse or to not reverse Likert-type items: That is the question.

BACKGROUND: The suitability of using reversed items in typical response measures has been a matter of controversy for many years. While some authors recommend their use, others reject them due to their undesirable effects on tests' psychometric properties. The present research intends to analyse a third alternative based on the use of reversed items plus a procedure to control response bias effects. METHOD: We analysed two forms of the same test, one with direct and reversed items and another composed only of direct items, and compared them both before and after applying a procedure to control response biases. RESULTS: The factorial structure and factorial reliability of both versions was almost equivalent after controlling response biases. When no effect biases were controlled, the version with both types of items exhibited less acceptable psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS: The use of reversed items is not advisable without the application of a procedure to control response bias effects. When such effects are mitigated, the results are equivalent to those obtained with only direct items, but with the added value of controlling for acquiescence effects.