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Abstract Socioemotional skills are essential for students’ development at school. However, school support has barely generated debates. We aimed to analyze the evidence of the internal structure and convergent-discriminant validity of the scores of the forced-choice version of the Inventory of Supporting for Socio-Emotional Skills (ISSE). In total, 443 middle and high school students (54% of whom were girls) participated in this study. Results indicated that the revised instrument was consistent with its two-dimension theoretical model (support and demand); the forced-choice version showed an appropriate internal structure and no bias by acquiescence. Moreover, based on a multitrait-multimethod matrix, the scores of the Likert forced-choice version showed convergent and discriminant validity. This study contributes to the literature by proposing a multidimensional heteroevalutive instrument to assess support for socioemotional development in the forced-choice format, which reduces response bias.

Abstract Nonparametric procedures are used to add flexibility to models. Three nonparametric item response models have been proposed, but not directly compared: the Kernel smoothing (KS-IRT); the Davidian-Curve (DC-IRT); and the Bayesian semiparametric Rasch model (SP-Rasch). The main aim of the present study is to compare the performance of these procedures in recovering simulated true scores, using sum scores as benchmarks. The secondary aim is to compare their performances in terms of practical equivalence with real data. Overall, the results show that, apart from the DC-IRT, which is the model that performs the worse, all the other models give results quite similar to those when sum scores are used. These results are followed by a discussion with practical implications and recommendations for future studies.

Abstract: Antinatalism is the view that procreation is morally wrong. This paper introduces and validates the Short Antinatalism Scale (S-ANS) that allows researchers to measure antinatalist views. We conducted four preregistered studies with a total of 1,088 participants. First, we ran a study on Prolific (N = 296) and conducted an exploratory factor analysis of an initial scale including 22 items drawn from the philosophical literature on antinatalism. In Study 2, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of a reduced 12-item scale, also on Prolific (N = 396). Based on a Mokken scale analysis, we further reduced the scale to a 5-item version which we tested in a second confirmatory factor analysis, Study 3, on Prolific (N = 297), where we also aimed to provide evidence of validity. The results indicated excellent model fit (RMSEA = 0.012) and evidence for validity (with life satisfaction, affective empathy, and conservatism correlating negatively with antinatalism). Lastly, we conducted Study 4 with a sample of self-identified antinatalists on Reddit (N = 99) to provide additional evidence of validity. We find that the instrument is measurement invariant between self-described antinatalists and the general population and that antinatalists score significantly higher on the scale (d = 2.80). This provides evidence in favor of reliability and validity with respect to the final 5-item Short Antinatalism Scale (S-ANS). We hope that the S-ANS, which is freely available to all researchers, advances rigorous research into antinatalism and its determinants across a variety of fields that relate to the value of life and procreation.

ABSTRACT. Changes in personality traits in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are extremely common throughout the course of the pathology, and these behavioral changes present themselves as challenges in clinical management and as a significant cause of caregivers’ burden. Objective: Using a personality inventory based on the five-factor model of personality, this study aimed to assesses the change in these factors by comparing the premorbid and current personality of individuals recently diagnosed with AD. Methods: A total of 30 AD patients were recruited, and their respective family members responded to the personality inventory at home through a hosted site. The patients were also divided into two groups according to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): mild dementia (CDR 1) and moderate dementia (CDR 2). Results: Among all patients, there was a significant increase in neuroticism factor levels and a significant decrease in the extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, and socialization factors. When comparing the groups, only the extraversion factor showed a difference, with CDR 1 group accusing a higher change in scores. Higher scores in the factor neuroticism in the premorbid personality correlated with the current severity of the disease. Conclusions: This research draws the attention of family members and health professionals to changes in personality traits or behavior of relatives or patients, because it can reflect an underlying neurodegenerative process.

Abstract Item Response Theory represents one of the major advances in the field of developing valid and reliable measures in psychology. Among the main models used in this perspective are the Rasch model and the logistic models. These parametric models, however, are not suitable for all applications in psychology, since a substantial number of databases in psychology do not satisfy the assumptions of these models: unidimensionality; latent monotonicity; local independence; and, for some models, non-intersecting functions. Given this framework, the objective of this study was to present the theoretical and practical foundations of Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA). We present some historical issues involving the development of MSA, in addition to the main characteristics and assumptions of the two models used in this perspective. After exemplifying a MSA application, limitations and final considerations are presented, supporting the decision-making process for researchers who come to use MSA.