A comparative study of the NAART and WRAT4 Word Reading subtest to estimate reading level.

Patients are often asked to fill out paperwork in medical settings, but varying reading levels can affect the ability to self-report. By screening for reading level, clinicians can prevent potential patient confusion, frustration, and embarrassment. Clinicians can also avoid problems leading to misdiagnosis and providing materials that patients will not understand. The Wide Range Achievement Test - Fourth Edition (WRAT4) Word Reading (WR) subtest provides an estimation of word reading grade level as well as premorbid ability. The North American Adult Reading Test (NAART) only provides an estimation of premorbid abilities, but it is quick to administer and available in the public domain. By correlating these word reading measures (NAART & WRAT4 WR subtest), word reading level can be estimated by using the NAART alone. This project was a systematic replication of a study conducted by Jones et al. using a demographically-different sample of participants. Results indicate that NAART error scores and WRAT4 WR subtest raw scores were significantly correlated. Although the distributions of WRAT4 WR subtest raw scores from the Jones et al. study and the current study significantly differed, there was not a statistically significant difference between the proportion of predicted reading levels at/above or below fourth or fifth grade and actual reading levels at/above or below fourth or fifth grade. This finding suggests that the original regression equation created by Jones et al. can be applied to the current sample to accurately predict reading level classification.

Method Effects Associated to Item Valence: Evidence From the 10-Item Big-Five Inventory in Older Adults.

The objective of this study is to analyze the factor structure of the BFI-10 considering item valence effects when applied to measure older adults. Likewise, this study aims to estimate the factorial structure, internal consistency of the scale, to assess the nomological validity, and the association of the Big Five traits with age. 75,078 participants with mean age of 68.27 from the 7th Wave of the SHARE study were included. Confirmatory Factor Analyses, omega coefficients and Pearson correlations were estimated. The best-fit model identified a five-factor structure with two valence effects, internal consistency ranged from .26 to .64, the nomological network showed that loneliness is negatively associated to neuroticism and positively with the other four traits, and the opposite direction in the associations with the five traits and satisfaction and quality of life. Consciousness, Extraversion and Openness have been found as dimensions that tend to decrease with age.

A validation of the Japanese adaptation of the Big Five Inventory-2.

The purpose of this study was to adapt a Japanese version of the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2-J) to examine its factor structure, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance. The BFI-2-J assesses five domains and 15 facets of the Big Five personality traits. We analyzed two datasets: 487 Japanese undergraduates and 500 Japanese adults. The results of the principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the domain-facet structure of the BFI-2-J was similar to that of other language versions. The reliability of the BFI-2-J is sufficient. The correlation coefficients between the BFI-2-J and the other Big Five and self-esteem measures supported convergent and discriminant validity. Moreover, we confirmed measurement invariance across age and sex groups in domain-level and facet-level models. The results suggest that the BFI-2-J is a good instrument for measuring the Big Five personality traits and their facets in Japan. The BFI-2-J is expected to be useful in Japanese personality research and international comparative research.

Changing the Scale: The Effect of Modifying Response Scale Labels on the Measurement of Personality and Affect.

Much research in psychology is based on self-report questionnaire data using items with Likert-type response scales. Often the same items are administered with different response scale labels in different studies. Using measures of personality and affect, the effect of type of label (bipolar or unipolar) on the categorical item responses was investigated with the methods of item response theory (IRT). In two studies, the effect of type of label was examined in the context of all options labeled and only endpoint options labeled. In Study 1, we found that when every number of a response scale is labeled, the responses to the same items differ between bipolar (agree-disagree) and unipolar (not at all - very much) labels. Study 2 showed that these differences are not observed when only the endpoints are labeled. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for measurement and research reporting of personality, clinical, health, social, and other psychological constructs. IRT methods offer a way to increase our understanding of the psychological processes underlying answering questions.

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.

Hidden framings and hidden asymmetries in the measurement of personality--A combined lens-model and frame-of-reference perspective.

OBJECTIVE: The symmetry principle and the frame-of-reference perspective have each made contributions to improving the measurement of personality. Although each perspective is valuable in its own right, we argue that even greater improvement can be achieved through the combination of both. Therefore, the goal of the current article was to show the value of a combined lens-model and frame-of-reference perspective. METHOD: We conducted a literature review to summarize relevant research findings that shed light on the interplay of both perspectives and developed an integrative model. RESULTS: Based on the literature review and on theoretical grounds, we argue that a basic premise of the frame-of-reference literature--that personality items are open to interpretation and allow individuals to impose their own contextual framings--should be considered from a symmetry perspective. Unintended context-specificity in items may "spread" to personality facets and domains, and thus, impact the symmetry of personality measures with other criteria. As the individuals´ frames-of-reference and (a)symmetric relationships are not always apparent, we term them as "hidden." CONCLUSIONS: The proposed combination of lens-model and frame-of-reference perspectives provides further insights into current issues in personality research and uncovers important avenues for future research.

Reliability and External Validity of Personality Test Scores: The Role of Person and Item Error / Fiabilidad y Validez Externa de las Puntuaciones en los Tests de Personalidad: El Papel del Error en las Personas y en los Ítems

Background: This article explores the suitability of a proposed “Dual” model, in which both people and items are sources of measurement error, by assessing how the test scores are expected to behave in terms of marginal reliability and external validity when the model holds. Method: Analytical derivations are produced for predicting: (a) the impact of person and item errors in the amount of marginal reliability and external validity, as well as the occurrence of “ceiling” effects; (b) the changes in test reliability across groups with different average amounts of person error, and (c) the phenomenon of differential predictability. Two empirical studies are also used both as an illustration and as a check of the predicted results. Results: Results show that the model-based predictions agree with existing evidence as well as with basic principles in classical test theory. However, the additional inclusion of individuals as a source of error leads to new explanations and predictions. Conclusions: The proposal and results provide new sources of information in personality assessment as well as of evidence of model suitability. They also help to explain some disappointing recurrent results. (AU)

Antecedentes: se explora la adecuación de un modelo “Dual” en el que ítems y personas son fuente de error de medida, evaluando como se espera que se comporten las puntuaciones en un test en términos de fiabilidad y validez cuando el modelo se cumple. Método: se derivan analíticamente predicciones respecto a: (a) el impacto del error en personas y en ítems en las estimaciones de fiabilidad y validez externa, así como en efectos techo esperados, (b) cambios en la fiabilidad marginal en grupos con diferente magnitud media de error individual, y (c) el fenómeno de la predictibilidad diferencial. Se incluyen dos estudios empíricos a efectos de ilustración y verificación empírica. Resultados: las predicciones concuerdan con la evidencia acumulada y con los principios de la teoría clásica del test. Sin embargo, la inclusión del parámetro de error individual permite llegar a nuevas explicaciones y predicciones. Conclusiones: la propuesta y resultados proporcionan nuevas fuentes de información en la medida de la personalidad, así como evidencia de la adecuación del modelo. También explican algunos resultados decepcionantes y recurrentes. (AU)

The Properties and Utility of Less Evaluative Personality Scales: Reduction of Social Desirability; Increase of Construct and Discriminant Validity.

Evaluative neutralization implies rephrasing items such that it is less clear to the respondent what would be a desirable response in the given population. The current research compares evaluatively neutralized scales measuring the FFM model with standard counterparts. Study 1 reveals that evaluatively neutralized scales are less influenced by social desirability. Study 2 estimates higher-order factor models for neutralized vs. standard five-factor scales. In contrast to standard inventories, there was little support for higher-order factors for neutralized scales. Study 3 demonstrates the convergent and discriminant validity for the neutralized scales, e.g., by less inflated correlations to external measures. It is argued that evaluatively neutralized inventories help researchers come to grips with social desirability in personality measurement, and are particularly useful when the factor structure is central to the research question and there is a focus on discriminant validity.

Desenvolvimento da versão reduzida do Inventário de Jesness - Revisado brasileiro / Development of the reduced Brazilian version of the Jesness Inventory - Revised / Desarrollo de la versión reduzida del Inventário de Jesness - Revisado brasileiro

O objetivo do estudo foi selecionar itens para composição da versão reduzida do Inventário de Jesness ­ Revisado brasileiro, instrumento específico de avaliação psicológica de adolescentes infratores. Foram utilizados dados de 954 adolescentes da população, com idades entre 11 e 18 anos, do sexo masculino. Realizaram-se análises do Modelo Exploratório de Teoria de Resposta ao Item (EMIRT) e, em seguida, do Modelo Confirmatório de Teoria de Resposta ao Item (CMIRT), para cada escala do instrumento, separadamente. Na etapa do EMIRT foram excluídos itens com α inaceitável; na do CMIRT mantidos apenas itens com α moderado ou alto. Denotou-se existência de subdimensões nas escalas, sendo que alguns itens se mantiveram em mais de uma escala. Chegou-se assim a uma versão com 86 itens. As estratégias adotadas permitiram selecionar itens com maior capacidade discriminativa/explicativa e a detectar subdimensões cujos conteúdos analisados preliminarmente propiciam avanço na compreensão dos construtos aferidos pelo Inventário. AU

The aim of this study was to select items for the composition of the reduced Brazilian version of the Jesness Inventory ­ Revised, a specific instrument for the psychological evaluation of juvenile offenders. Data from 954 adolescents of the population aged between 11 and 18 years were used. Analyses using the Item Response Theory Exploratory Model (IRTEM) and then the Item Response Theory Confirmation Model (IRTCM) were performed for each scale of the instrument. In the IRTEM stage, items with an unacceptable α were excluded and in the IRTCM stage only items with moderate or high α values were maintained. Subdimensions were found in the scales. This led to a version with 86 items. The strategies adopted allowed the selection of items with greater discriminative/explanatory capacity and the identification of subdimensions through preliminary content analysis helped in the comprehension of the construct. AU

El objetivo de este estudio fue seleccionar ítems para la composición de la versión reducida del Inventario de Jesness ­ Revisado Brasileiro, una herramienta específica para evaluación psicológica de adolescentes infractores, con una muestra de 954 adolescentes de la población, del sexo masculino y con edades comprendidas entre 11 y 19 años. Para cada escala del instrumento fueron realizadas los Análisis de Modelo Exploratorio de la Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem (EMIRT) y, a continuación, del Modelo Confirmatorio de la Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem (CMIRT). En la etapa del EMIRT se excluyeron ítems con α inaceptable y, en el CMIRT, se mantuvieron sólo ítems con α moderado o alto. Se demostró la existencia de subdimensiones en las escalas, siendo que en algunos ítems se mantuvieron en más de una escala. De esta forma, se obtuvo una versión con 86 ítems. Las estrategias adoptadas permitieron seleccionar ítems con mayor capacidad discriminatoria/explicativa y a detectar subdimensiones cuyos contenidos fueron analizados preliminarmente otorgan avances en la comprensión de los constructos evaluados por el Inventario. AU

A methodology for creating and validating psychological stories for conveying and measuring psychological traits.

Personality impacts all areas of our lives; it governs who we are and how we react to life's challenges. Personalized systems that adapt to end users should take into account the user's personality to perform well. Several methodologies (e.g. User-as-Wizard, indirect studies) that use personality adaptation require first for personality to be conveyed to the participant; this has few validated approaches. Furthermore, measuring personality is often time consuming, prone to response bias (e.g. using questionnaires) or data intensive (e.g. using behaviour or text mining). This paper presents a methodology for creating and validating stories to convey psychological traits and for using such stories with a personality slider scale to measure these traits. We present the validation of the scale and evaluate its reliability. To evidence the validity of the methodology, we outline studies where the stories and scale have been effectively applied (in recommender systems, intelligent tutoring systems, and persuasive systems).

A Comprehensive IRT Approach for Modeling Binary, Graded, and Continuous Responses With Error in Persons and Items.

Dual item response theory (IRT) models in which items and individuals have different amounts of measurement error have been proposed in the literature. Any developments in these models, however, are feasible only for continuous responses. This article discusses a comprehensive dual modeling approach, based on underlying latent response variables, from which specific models for continuous, graded, and binary responses are obtained. Procedures for (a) calibrating the items, (b) scoring individuals, (c) assessing model appropriateness, and (d) assessing measurement precision are discussed for all the resulting models. Simulation results suggest that the proposal is quite feasible. A practical illustration is given with an empirical example in the personality domain.

Using the Big Five Aspect Scales to translate between the HEXACO and Big Five personality models.

OBJECTIVE: The extensive use of two diverging personality taxonomies (the Big Five and HEXACO models) in contemporary research creates a need for understanding how traits connect to each other across taxonomies. Previous research has approached this at both a highly general (domain-) level as well as at a highly specific (facet-) level. The present report is the first to use the intermediate (aspect-) level of the Big Five Aspect Scales (BFAS) to understand the connections between the two models. METHOD: We explored these associations in a meta-analysis of four samples drawn from three countries (total N = 1,586). RESULTS: We observed that each HEXACO domain correlated ≥|0.51| with one or more BFAS aspects. Half of the aspects were more strongly associated with HEXACO facets than with HEXACO domains, sometimes markedly so. CONCLUSION: Although many domains, aspects, and facets are similarly represented across the two models, this was not always the case. Researchers seeking to use one model to extend findings built primarily off the other should carefully consider how well represented their traits of interest are in the other assessment. Psychology instructors are encouraged to use the BFAS to illustrate the subtler distinctions between the Big Five and HEXACO models.

The Conscientious Responders Scale Helps Researchers Verify the Integrity of Personality Questionnaire Data.

The Conscientious Responders Scale is a five-item embeddable validity scale that differentiates between conscientious and indiscriminate responding in personality-questionnaire data (CR & IR). This investigation presents further evidence of its validity and generalizability across two experiments. Study 1 tests its sensitivity to questionnaire length, a known cause of IR, and tries to provoke IR by manipulating psychological reactance. As expected, short questionnaires produced higher Conscientious Responders Scale scores than long questionnaires, and Conscientious Responders Scale scores were unaffected by reactance manipulations. Study 2 tests concerns that the Conscientious Responders Scale's unusual item content could potentially irritate and baffle responders, ironically increasing rates of IR. We administered two nearly identical questionnaires: one with an embedded Conscientious Responders Scale and one without the Conscientious Responders Scale. Psychometric comparisons revealed no differences across questionnaires' means, variances, interitem response consistencies, and Cronbach's alphas. In sum, the Conscientious Responders Scale is highly sensitive to questionnaire length-a known correlate of IR-and can be embedded harmlessly in questionnaires without provoking IR or changing the psychometrics of other measures.

A study of the correlation between dental trauma and the personality of school-aged children / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective: To study the influence of personality on the occurrence of dental trauma of school-aged children. Methods:The school-aged children with dental trauma who came to visit our department were randomly recruited. The Eysenck Personality Scale was used to test the subjects who met the inclusion criteria. Results: 306 children were included in the study. There was a statistically significant association between personality type and the number of traumatic teeth (P ＜ 0. 05) and the number of traumatic teeth in children with extroversion was higher than that of children with neutrality or introversion (P ＜ 0. 05) . Conclusion: Extroverted personality is a significant correlation factor affecting the severity of dental trauma in children, and it is of great significance to provide scientific guidance and warning for them to prevent tooth trauma.

Personality profiles of divers: integrating results across studies.

BACKGROUND: There are numerous reports on diver personality, spanning across five decades, across national boundaries, and using a range of measures to describe diver profiles. However, the range of reports poses challenges to interpreting new studies, particularly when having to compare findings across generations, measurements, and national/cultural contexts. This paper aimed to review and integrate diver personality descriptions, drawing on the available studies that reported trait theory based data for naval and sport divers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Available studies on diver personality - associated with trait theory - were tabulated and the specific traits associated with divers described. Their findings were then integrated into a synthesised description of personality traits. RESULTS: The results suggest remarkably stable military diver profiles across generations, measures, and navies, with some unique differences observed due to national-cultural variables. It was of particular interest that different measures of personality appeared to present related constructions of diver profiles. Navy divers share, among others, a propensity for adventurousness, a strong sense of self-agency, and low trait anxiety. Unsurprisingly, personality profiling could not be generalised across military-civilian diving contexts, and the same clear profile differentiation of navy divers was not visible among sport divers. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary local data - in the context of military diving - could productively be compared to the body of existing reports, at least where similar theoretical models are used.

Ideal Point Modeling of Non-cognitive Constructs: Review and Recommendations for Research.

Most psychological measurement models assume a monotonically increasing relation between the latent trait and the probability of responding. These models have historically been based on the measurement of abilities (e.g., cognitive), which have dominance properties. However, they are less appropriate for the measurement of non-cognitive constructs, or self-reported typical behaviors (e.g., attitudes, emotions, interests, personality), which have historically been assumed to have ideal point properties, or a nonmonotonic relation between the latent trait and the probability of responding. In this paper, we review the literature on ideal point modeling of non-cognitive constructs to present a theoretical framework that can help guide researchers on pertinent factors that may influence ideal point responding when assessing non-cognitive constructs. We also review the practical implications of not using ideal point response models for non-cognitive constructs and propose areas for research in non-cognitive construct assessment.

Psychometric Properties of the HEXACO-100.

Psychometric properties of the 100-item English-language HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) were examined using samples of online respondents ( N = 100,318 self-reports) and of undergraduate students ( N = 2,868 self- and observer reports). The results were as follows: First, the hierarchical structure of the HEXACO-100 was clearly supported in two principal components analyses: each of the six factors was defined by its constituent facets and each of the 25 facets was defined by its constituent items. Second, the HEXACO-100 factor scales showed fairly low intercorrelations, with only one pair of scales (Honesty-Humility and Agreeableness) having an absolute correlation above .20 in self-report data. Third, the factor and facet scales showed strong self/observer convergent correlations, which far exceeded the self/observer discriminant correlations.

On Measuring the Sixth Basic Personality Dimension: A Comparison Between HEXACO Honesty-Humility and Big Six Honesty-Propriety.

Recent developments in personality research led to the proposition of two alternative six-factor trait models, the HEXACO model and the Big Six model. However, given the lack of direct comparisons, it is unclear whether the HEXACO and Big Six factors are distinct or essentially equivalent, that is, whether corresponding inventories measure similar or distinct personality traits. Using Structural Equation Modeling (Study 1), we found substantial differences between the traits as measured via the HEXACO-60 and the 30-item Questionnaire Big Six (30QB6), particularly for Honesty-Humility and Honesty-Propriety (both model's critical difference to the Big Five approach). This distinction was further supported by Study 2, showing differential capabilities of the HEXACO-60 and the 30QB6 to account for several criteria representing the theoretical core of Honesty-Humility and/or Honesty-Propriety. Specifically, unlike the indicator of Honesty-Humility, the indicator of Honesty-Propriety showed low predictive power for some conceptually relevant criteria, suggesting a limited validity of the 30QB6.

Act-Frequency Signatures of the Big Five.

The traditional focus of work on personality and behavior has tended toward "major outcomes" such as health or antisocial behavior, or small sets of behaviors observable over short periods in laboratories or in convenience samples. In a community sample, we examined a wide set (400) of mundane, incidental or "every day" behavioral acts, the frequencies of which were reported over the past year. Using an exploratory methodology similar to genomic approaches (relying on the False Discovery Rate) revealed 26 prototypical acts for Intellect, 24 acts for Extraversion, 13 for Emotional Stability, nine for Conscientiousness, and six for Agreeableness. Many links were consistent with general intuition-for instance, low Conscientiousness with work and procrastination. Some of the most robust associations, however, were for acts too specific for a priori hypothesis. For instance, Extraversion was strongly associated with telling dirty jokes, Intellect with "loung[ing] around [the] house without clothes on", and Agreeableness with singing in the shower. Frequency categories for these acts changed with markedly non-linearity across Big Five Z-scores. Findings may help ground trait scores in emblematic acts, and enrich understanding of mundane or common behavioral signatures of the Big Five.

An IRT Modeling Approach for Assessing Item and Person Discrimination in Binary Personality Responses.

Conventional item response theory (IRT) modeling of personality responses considers two item characteristics-location and discrimination-but only one person characteristic-location or trait level. An IRT modeling approach that jointly considers item and person discriminations, however, is thought to be more realistic and appropriate in this domain and has several potential advantages. This article develops a model of this type for unidimensional binary responses together with procedures for estimating item and person parameters and assessing model appropriateness (including person fit). A series of preliminary simulations suggests that the approach is feasible, and a real-data example illustrates the potential advantages with respect to the standard two-parameter model. Limitations of the proposal and further work are also discussed.