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The objective of the present study was to verify the parameters of items and people by using the Item Response Theory (IRT) in a reading comprehension measurement, including quantitative and qualitative analyses of the items map as well as to investigate the presence of Differential Item Functioning (DIF). The sample consisted of 518 children from the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, aged from 6 to 16, from private and public schools in the city of Belo Horizonte-MG. The instrument was a text prepared according to Cloze technique. The data confirmed the unidimensionality of the instrument; showed average theta higher than the average of items; and, the presence of DIF was observed in some items in relation to the school grades. The results demonstrated validity evidence for the instrument and are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results about the development of a new psychological measure for quality assessment in romantic relationships. The Scale for Quality Assessment in Romantic Relationships (Aquarela-R) follows the parameters of a semantic differential (SD) and it is proposed to directly assess five cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of romantic relationships: (a) commitment, (b) intimacy, (c) love, (d) sexual relationship, and (e) communication. Two studies comprised the research: the first was a study of the semantics of descriptors, and the second one was about development of the measure. Three hundred eighty eight people participated in this survey, 211 (54.4%) were males and the average age of the participants was 28.2 years old (SD = 9.1 years). The final measure showed consistent results in terms of its factorial and external validity as well as Cronbach's alpha indices of reliability higher than .90 in all factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of the Religious Commitment Index (RCI) which aims at grouping different dimensions of religious commitment in one single index by conducting two studies. Three hundred seventeen students took part in Study 1 and 194 people in Study 2, with similar mean ages (Study 1: m = 16.6, SD = 5.20; Study 2: m = 16, SD = 4.41), mostly female (53.6% and 67.5%, respectively). All participants completed one scale of religious beliefs and one of religious practices, followed by religious related and socio-demographic questions. Both studies showed the different dimensions grouping in one single factor, accounting for 65% of the total variance and showing satisfactory internal consistency. The results suggest the adequacy of the RCI for the studied religious groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistics comprised under Mantel-Haenszel (MH) methods designation constitute one of the most popular and low cost differential item functioning (DIF) detection methods. Mantel-Haenszel methods permit DIF assessment of dichotomous and polytomous items in multiple groups simultaneously, and they can be applied both under Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory. This paper provides a framework for integrating the different MH statistics used in DIF research, and describes the software that has been developed to provide an easy-to-use program for conducting DIF analyses using the statistics. The program is free of charge and it is available in the following languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]