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The current study outlines the evaluation of the Slovak adaptation of the fifteen-item Revised Social Anhedonia Scale-Brief (RSAS-B). The final sample consisted of 1287 university students, of whom 75.71% were women (a mean age of 22.62 ± 4.01). The factor structure, construct validity and reliability were examined. The results demonstrate the sound psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the RSAS-B. McDonald's omega was 0.79 and Cronbach's was 0.79, both indicating the good reliability of the scale. The confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor solution as the adequate model in the non-clinical sample. The RSAS-B scores were positively related to other measures of psychopathology, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, the Social Anxiety Disorder Dimensional Scale, and the Social Functioning Scale. The normative data were developed separately for men and women. The RSAS-B can be used as an adequate screening method to determine the social anhedonia., Author(s): Alexandra Straková [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jakub Januska [sup.1] [sup.2] , Anton Heretik [sup.1] [sup.2] , Barbora Vasecková [sup.3] , Ľubica Forgácová [sup.3] , Michal Patarák [sup.4] , Ján Pecenák [...]

In recent years, work-family balance, as a construct, has been increasingly attracting the scholarly attention alongside with more traditional ones as work-family conflict and enrichment. We aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Work-Family Balance scale (Carlson et al. Human Relations, 20, 1-28, 2009 (See CR9)) through two different studies. Study 1 (N = 152) was carried out to verify the construct validity of the scale, while Study 2 (N = 319) was carried out to verify its discriminant validity contrasting it with work-family conflict and enrichment. The results, in line with the hypothesized direction, confirmed the original one-factor structure of the scale via confirmatory factor analysis (Study 1), moreover the correlations with the other two examined constructs were in the hypothesized direction (Study 2): positive with work-family enrichment, and negative with work-family conflict. Practical implications, study limits, and avenues for future research are discussed., Author(s): Alfonso Landolfi [sup.1] , Alessandro Lo Presti [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.9841.4, 0000 0001 2200 8888, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', , Viale Ellittico, [...]

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) scale measures well-being as a series of orientations. We investigated the HEMA scale's psychometric properties among two Japanese samples in longitudinal studies over periods of one month (N = 385) and two months (N = 224). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified three subscales of the HEMA scale: hedonic pleasure orientation, hedonic relaxation orientation, and eudaimonic orientation. On average, at a given point in time, the correlations between subscales were r = .58 for the hedonic pleasure and hedonic relaxation orientations; r = .56 for the hedonic pleasure and eudaimonic orientations; and r = .26 for the hedonic relaxation and eudaimonic orientations-while the internal consistencies were [alpha]s > .80 for all subscales. In both studies, the three HEMA subscales had test-retest correlations averaging rs = .51, which suggests that these orientations are temporally quite stable, yet they are also amenable to change. Longitudinal analyses showed correlations between the HEMA scale and external criteria: hedonic pleasure orientation was associated with life satisfaction, positive affect, personal growth, purpose in life, and sense of meaning; hedonic relaxation orientation was associated with life satisfaction, positive affect, calm affect, and personal growth; and eudaimonic orientation was associated with life satisfaction, positive affect, personal growth, purpose in life, and sense of meaning. Implications for future research on the HEMA scale are discussed., Author(s): Ryosuke Asano [sup.1] , Saori Tsukamoto [sup.2] , Tasuku Igarashi [sup.3] , Veronika Huta [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.410781.b, 0000 0001 0706 0776, Department of Psychology, Kurume University, , [...]

Although researchers have studied empathy among many populations, there are few studies in which researchers have focused on empathy among Farsi speakers. We explore the psychometric properties of a Farsi translation of the Empathy Quotient (EQ), and compare the degree to which the items function in a comparable way to the English version of the items. We used Rasch measurement theory to examine the psychometric properties of the EQ in terms of item ordering, item fit, and differences between Farsi-speakers and English speakers related to the overall locations of participants within the two language subgroups and the consistency of item ordering between the two subgroups. Overall, the results suggested that the Farsi translation of the EQ demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties for measuring empathy among Farsi speakers. However, several items appeared to function differently across the two translations. We discuss our findings in terms of their implications for research and practice., Author(s): Stefanie A. Wind [sup.1] [sup.2] , Parvaneh Yaghoubi Jami [sup.1] , Behzad Mansouri [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411015.0, 0000 0001 0727 7545, The University of Alabama, , Tuscaloosa, AL, [...]

Over the last few decades, distance education and distance learning have assumed a relevant role in education paradigms. To evaluate the perception and preferences of the psychosocial online learning environment by Portuguese post-secondary higher education, the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES) was applied in a Portuguese context. This article describes the adaptation and validation of DELES to be used in distance and hybrid education psychosocial learning environments in Portugal. The results suggested five scales rather than the six of the original DELES. The Internal consistency values were all good or excellent. However, a second-order principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that the scales might also be scored and used as a unidimensional measure. Beyond investigating the DELES-Pt 'actual' form concerning students' perceptions of the learning environment, we also studied psychometric features of the DELES-Pt 'preferred' form regarding students' preferred learning environment. The results were like those achieved with the actual form in other investigations. When both forms were compared, a significant discrepancy was observed between students' perceptions and preferences. The implications of these findings for applied settings are discussed. DELES-Pt forms demonstrated adequate reliability and validity; however, further studies with the DELES-Pt are needed to compare with our data., Author(s): Anabela Sousa Pereira [sup.1] [sup.2] , Rosa Maria Gomes [sup.1] , Daniel Ruivo Marques [sup.1] [sup.3] , Scott L. Walker [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7311.4, 0000000123236065, Department of Education [...]

Psychometric measures form an essential component of cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, yet there is a lack of published research about the practices of psychologists administering these tests in New Zealand. An online survey was developed to determine the views and practices of psychologists who administer cognitive and neuropsychological assessments with New Zealand children. Results of the 66 respondents revealed that the WISC-IV and the ABAS-II-Parent were the most frequently used measures and that lack of access and familiarity were most frequently cited reasons for not using a measure. Most respondents had concerns regarding the cultural sensitivity of tests and thought that New Zealand normative data was needed. Keywords: neuropsychological assessment; cognitive assessment; test selection; child; New Zealand context, Cognitive and neuropsychological assessments with children must be accurate and valid due to the significant influence that results can have on the life of a child and their family/whanau. Patterns [...]

The psychometric properties of the Selective Mutism Questionnaire (SMQ) are evaluated using a clinical sample of children with selective mutism (SM). The study shows that SMQ is useful in determining the severity of a child's nonspeaking behaviors, the scope of these behaviors and necessary follow up assessment.

The prevention of counterproductive of antisocial risk taking is a research priority. Attempts to understand risk-taking behaviors are dominated by the psychometric and neuropsychological paradigms, which have developed in relative isolation. Previous studies indicate that risk taking is associated with the sensation-seeking personality trait, although the relationship with impulsivity may be complex. Poor risk-related decision making is associated with lesions to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Furthev research is necessary to establish which forms of risk taking are associated with the 5-factor model of personality and may be influenced by ventromedial prefrontal cortex functioning. The relationship between risk-related decision making and personality traits is also discussed in order to provide a basis for future research adopting an integrated model of risk taking behavior.

The author identifies four conceptualizations of the relation between symptoms and disorders as utilized in diagnostic systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994): A constructivist perspective, which holds that disorders are conveniently grouped sets of symptoms; a diagnostic perspective, which holds that disorders are latent classes underlying the symptoms; a dimensional perspective, which holds that symptoms measure latent continua; and a causal systems perspective, which holds that disorders are causal networks consisting of symptoms and direct causal relations between them. Advantages and disadvantages of these conceptualizations are discussed. The author concludes that the psychometric analysis of diagnostic systems is not settled, and that these systems require deeper psychometric analysis than they currently receive. Keywords: diagnostic systems; psychometrics; theoretical psychology; latent variable models; causal networks

This special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology comprises six theoretical papers that are concerned with the interconnected topics of scientific method, abductive inference, and clinical reasoning. The first four papers deal with the nature and limitations of a broad abductive theory of scientific method, and its application to clinical reasoning and case formulation. These are followed by three papers which in turn consider the prospects of using explanatory criteria to appraise competing models of psychopathy, examine the merits of a number of different psychometric perspectives on the assessment of psychopathology, and reject a core supposition of the orthodox approach to hypothesis testing. Keywords: scientific method; abduction; clinical reasoning; inference to the best explanation; diagnostic systems; hypothesis resting

A cross-sectional study that was conducted on twins to assess inspection time and psychometric tests of many cognitive abilities in children from 1 to 17 years is presented. Results showed that there were substantial correlations between cognitive abilities and inspection time.

The psychometric properties of four teacher report measures and their utility for accurate diagnosis of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSDs) were examined. Participants were 191 youth (65% male; 62% African-American; 23% diagnosed with a BPSD), age 5-18 (M=10.16, SD=3.27) years, 70% recruited from a community mental health center and 30% recruited from a mood disorders clinic. Teachers 'who knew the child best' were asked to complete the Achenbach Teacher Report Form (TRF) as well as teacher versions of the General Behavior Inventory (T-GBI), the Child Mania Rating Scale (CMRS-T), and the Young Mania Rating Scale (T-YMRS). Teacher response rates and missing data varied significantly depending on the age of the child. Exploratory factor analysis identified stable and interpretable factors; however, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regression analyses showed that teacher report measures were not able to discriminate BPSD cases from non-BPSD cases, or from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cases. Teacher report appears to be insufficiently specific or sensitive to BPSD for clinical diagnostic use, although teacher scales might have research utility. Keywords: bipolar disorder; children and adolescents; diagnostic accuracy; psychometrics; sensitivity and specificity; teacher report

A new measure of unrealistic marital expectations was tested in a sample of 453 community couples. Structural validity, concurrent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency and temporal stability of the new measure were measured.

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale (CATS; Schniering, C. A., & Rapee, R. M. (2002). Development and validation of a measure of children's automatic thoughts: The Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 1091-1109) in a large sample of anxious youth. The participants were 891 referred children and adolescents. Participants completed the CATS and a wide range of symptom measures, and were assessed via a structured diagnostic interview. Previous community-based psychometric properties were confirmed. The scale was highly sensitive to treatment change, and showed evidence of cognitive specificity with reductions in threat and failure beliefs, but not in hostility beliefs following treatment. The CATS demonstrated good convergent validity with related anxiety and depression scales, and moderate discriminant validity was found across anxious, anxious-depressed and anxious-oppositional groups. Implications for the assessment of child anxiety, and difficulties around children 'faking good' on anxiety measures are discussed. Keywords: Child anxiety; Cognition; Assessment; Treatment change

The purpose of the study was to report initial data on the psychometric properties of the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. The scale was applied to a nonclinical sample of 250 (137 women, 113 men) Turkish undergraduate students selected randomly from Middle East Technical University. Their mean age was 20.4 yr. (SD = 1.9). The factor structure of the Turkish version, its criterion validity, and internal reliability coefficients were assessed. Although maximum likelihood factor analysis initially indicated that the scale had only one factor, a forced two-factor solution accounted for more variance (61%) in scale scores than a single factor. The straightforward items loaded on the first factor, and the reverse-coded items loaded on the second factor. The total score was significantly positively correlated with scores on the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale and significantly negatively correlated with scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Factor 1 (straightforward items) correlated more highly with both Shyness and Self-esteem than Factor 2 (reverse-coded items). Internal consistency estimate was .94 for the Total scores, .91 for the Factor 1 (straightforward items), and .87 for the Factor 2 (reverse-coded items). No sex differences were evident for Fear of Negative Evaluation.

Two nonparametric item response theory (NIRT) methods were used to analyze the Baseline Addiction Severity Index (ASI-5) data of a sample of substance abuse patients, from both Recent and Lifetime indexes of ASI problems function. The study found that NIRT was successful in deriving summary indexes of severity that were relatively independent between the different ASI-5 problem areas and demonstrated concurrent validity.

This article is based largely upon the author's invited address at the 113th annual convention of the American Psychological Convention, Washington, DC, as the 2005 recipient of the Samuel J. Messick Award bestowed by APA Division 5 and the Educational Testing Service. The author summarizes the growth of graduate training in psychometrics and quantitative psychology, in the years prior to and following the end of WWII. He then opines the steady decline in the training of psychometricians and quantitative psychologists beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the 20th century. Likely causes of the decline are inferred and prospects for strengthening the quantitative skills of doctorates are discussed, including recommendations for reversing the downward trend.

The 50-item Violence-Related Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (V-RABS) includes three subscales measuring possible causes of violent behavior (environmental influences, biological influences, and mental illness) and four subscales assessing possible controls of violent behavior (death penalty, punishment, prevention, and catharsis). Each subscale demonstrates good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Thus, the V-RABS and its component subscales can be valuable research tools for understanding people's beliefs about the causes and controls of violent crime. Keywords: attitude measurement; violence prevention; scale construction; punishment; death penalty

The scientist-practitioner collaboration around a structured employment interview coaching program is described. The aim of the project is to provide assistance to promotion candidates in preparing for a structured panel interview, to survey employee reactions to the program, to determine whether the intervention had an effect on interview performance and to provide benefits without negatively influencing validity and reliability of interview procedures.

An attempt is made to test the psychometric measures of spatial abilities, spatial updating, verbal abilities and working memory in which the layout of large environments from direct experience of walking through a real environment by a desktop virtual environment and a videotape of a walk through an environment is explained. The results indicate that spatial abilities at different scales of space are partially dissociated and that there are very large individual differences in environmental spatial abilities.

The 48-item Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) was designed to assess three dimensions (task-oriented, emotional, and avoidant) of self-reported responses to stressful circumstances, but results from factor analyses suggest four factors. The present research used confirmatory factor analysis to verify the four-factor structure for the 21-item CISS short form in samples of 1,628 undergraduate students and 390 community-dwelling adults. Factors corresponding to task-oriented and emotional scales were orthogonal and were well defined by their seven constituent items. The avoidant scale was split into two three-item parcels that describe specific avoidance behaviors (contact a friend and treat oneself) rather than broad response categories. In the undergraduate sample, depression and anxiety correlated negatively with the task-oriented scale and positively with the emotional scale. In the community sample, the emotional scale was positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively correlated with extroversion and agreeableness, whereas the task-oriented scale was negatively correlated with neuroticism and positively correlated with extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. It was concluded that the task-oriented and emotional scales have potential as measures of two types of responses to routine stressors. Keywords: coping styles; inventories; factor structure; psychometrics

The psychometric properties and exploratory factor analysis of the Children's Attributions and Perceptions Scale in two Spanish samples of children were examined (n = 48 from an after-school social care center in a deprived neighborhood, and n = 120 from a school mainly enrolling families of medium socioeconomic status: 49% boys and 51% girls; M age = 10.5 yr., SD = 18.7). A cross-cultural comparative analysis of the Spanish samples and the normative sample was also carried out. Factor analysis supported a 4-factor solution for Spanish populations. Significant differences were found between the Spanish groups in school and the social care centers. The cross cultural analysis showed that stressful conditions (sexual abuse vs deprivation) produced greater differences than cultural group (Spanish vs American).

Psychometric characteristics of the Student Information Literacy Self-efficacy Report based on responses from 498 students ages 9 to 12 years are reported. Students report their stir-efficacy (confidence and difficulty) in 11 different phases of being information literate, i.e., developing a topic, planning, self management, locating sources, selecting sources, retrieving information, analysing information, evaluating information, synthesising knowledge, presenting knowledge, and self-evaluation using a positively packed rating scale. The data were strongly internally consistent (Cronbach [alpha] = .95) with a test-retest reliability of .78. The 11 phases, factors measured by a matching pair of self-efficacy questions, were confirmed ([chi square] = 529.68; df = 198; RMSEA = .058; TLI = .940), Ratings were correlated low with teachers' ratings and test scores of information literacy skills and moderately correlated with academic self-concept. The test provides unique information about students' self-efficacy for information literacy. Its use in classrooms is warranted.

A study focuses on the comparison of two types of item designs with regard to the effect of variations of the property 'perceptual organization' on the psychometric properties and concurrent validity of figural matrices. The results indicate a comparably high concurrent validity of the automatically generated figural matrices with regard to Raven matrices and points towards differential effects of two kinds of implementations of perceptual organization.

The latent structure of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) was evaluated with confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) in 1200 outpatients with DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorders. Of particular interest was the comparative fit and interpretability of a two-factor solution (cf. Behaviour Research and Therapy 40 (2002) 313) vs. a one-factor model that specified method effects arising from five reverse-worded items. Consistent with prediction, the superiority of the one-factor model was demonstrated in split-sample CFA replications (ns = 600). Multiple-group CFAs indicated that the measurement properties of the PSWQ were invariant in male and female patients. In addition to their direct relevance to the psychometrics of the PSWQ, the results are discussed in regard to methodological considerations for using factor analytic methods in the evaluation of psychological tests. Keywords: Confirmatory factor analysis; Psychometrics; Pathological worry; Generalized anxiety disorder; Method effects; Assessment of worry

The psychometric properties of the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale, administered in a crisis residential mental health treatment setting, were investigated. Analyses indicated that Cronbach [alpha] reliabilities were very good compared to published research from inpatient and outpatient settings. Univariate and multivariate covariance analyses provided evidence supporting validity in terms of sensitivity to change during treatment and concurrent validity. Evidence supported the contention that women were more honest and realistic in their self-assessments but also that crisis residence treatment was efficacious for both sexes.

The study examined the psychometric properties of Dalbert, Montada, and Schmitt's (1987) English version of their 6-item belief in a just world scale using a sample of 253 Canadian management undergraduates. This study found strong support for the homogeneity of the scale, the independence of the scale from the influence of social desirability, and the concurrent validity of the scale as seen in significant correlations with Rubin and Peplau's (1975) 20-item just world scale. Cross-national comparisons show that this Canadian sample scored significantly higher than did the European and Hawaiian samples reported by Dalbert and her colleagues.

The Self-rating Inventory for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of 22 items was developed for use with populations without identified traumatic experiences. The inventory has been used extensively in survey research in The Netherlands. This paper examines the psychometric properties. In four different groups (trauma and psychiatric patients, elderly Dutch subjects, former peacekeepers, and medical students) internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and sensitivity and specificity are analyzed. The inventory showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and high sensitivity and specificity. It appears to be valuable for survey research on posttraumatic stress in nonselected populations. As a screening device, high sensitivity for PTSD symptoms is evident even when the traumatic event has not been defined.

An important empirical question is whether the Cultural Mistrust Inventory (CMI) can be used to measure cultural aspects of paranoia in Black psychiatric populations. Research on cultural mistrust in psychiatric populations is essential for tests of hypotheses regarding the misdiagnosis of African Americans. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the CMI in a sample of African American patients recently admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The reliability assessment revealed that the CMI total scale is a reliable measure. Factor analytic results indicated that a single global dimension underlies CMI scores. The CMI also showed good convergent validity with a measure of nonclinical paranoia and discriminant validity with measures of self-esteem and social desirability. This study provides reasonable evidence that use of the CMI with psychiatric patients is psychometrically sound. Keywords: African American; Cultural Mistrust Inventory; psychiatric diagnosis; paranoia; psychometrics; schizophrenia

The design and description of the psychometric properties of a Kindergarten Behavior Rating Scale used to predict later academic achievement were based on a survey of past literature on efficient predictors of school failure which indicated a need for a scale that identifies kindergarten pupils who are at risk for school failure during their elementary education. The scale, developed over a 3-yr. period, significantly predicted academic achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics, as indicated by correlations, .15 and .66 between scores on the scale and academic achievement in Grades 1 and 2. Use of judgment by kindergarten teachers to assess risks was also considered, as are other suggestions and limitations on the further use.

The article provides an analysis of psychometric tests given to young offenders, adult offenders, and non-offenders. The authors conclude dramatic differences were found among offenders and non-offenders, with offenders demonstrating lower executive capacity and maladaptive personality features, as well as a lack of social competency, judgement, and foresight.

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) at the 10th-grade exit-level test consists of three domain-referenced achievement tests in reading, writing, and mathematics, all of which must be passed at the same criterion score of 70 on the Texas Learning Index scale in order for a student to receive a high school diploma. This article examines the adequacy of the TAAS exit-level test from certain psychometric points of view. Although the legal sufficiency of the test has been established in federal court, there is much to learn from the deficiencies of the test. Several simulations based on a selected number of items as a result of factor analysis are discussed to show ways in which the TAAS exit-level test and similar instruments can be substantially improved.

Issues regarding the organization and components of psychomotor skill are discussed. The importance of time estimation and other cognitive factors in psychomotor learning and the changing nature of psychomotor skill with practice are the key findings.

The psychometric stability of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery was studied with data collected at 5 points over a 16-year period using item response theory (IRT) methods. Although 25 of the 200 items changed significantly over the years across 3 different gender-ethnic groups (i.e., White men, White women, and Black men), the overall characteristics of the tests were not severely affected by item-level changes. Items from tests that were more semantically laden were found to be more susceptible to the effects of time compared with those that focused on skills and principles. The findings are discussed in the context of the effects of time on the effectiveness of psychological measures. A call is made to test developers and test users to pay attention to the shelf life of their tests. The use of IRT methods for studying the effects of time on psychometrics is also discussed.

This study investigated the test-retest stability of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness. 54 nonclinical and 46 clinical subjects were administered the Index on two occasions 4 wk. apart. Test-retest correlation coefficients were calculated separately and together. The results evidenced high test-retest reliability. Correlation coefficients were .88 for nonclinical subjects and .83 for clinical subjects with an over-all test-retest reliability of .85 for all 100 subjects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure and to conduct an item analysis of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) among people with arthritis from the UK. This 20-item self-report scale was designed by Radloff in 1977 to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. Data were drawn from a national study and collected through self-administered questionnaires mailed to participants, each of whom had a confirmed diagnosis of arthritis. Reliability and structure of the scale were examined using standard item analysis, internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), and principal components analysis. A four-dimensional structure was identified: Self-worth, Depressed Affect, Positive Affect, and Somatic Disturbance; three items loaded on two factors and were excluded from consideration. Comparisons with previous studies indicated some differences in the subscales and showed that, in this sample, two subscales might be artifacts of measurement. In samples of people with arthritis from the UK, use of the total score may not reflect accurate depressive symptomatology and the subscale scores should be used with caution.

The objective of this research was to determine the latent structure of the Computer Hassles Scale using confirmatory factor analysis. This study employed a normative database of 1199 student computer users. Both a priori and a posteriori latent structure models were tested using LISREL. The analyses did not support a latent structure of the scale based on the scale's original two-factor definition. Using various goodness-of-fit indices, a four-factor model was the best fit.

S. L. Neuberg, T. N. Judice, and S. G. West (1997) faulted our work with the Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) on grounds that the NFCS lacks discriminant validity relative to S. L. Neuberg's and J. T. Newsom's (1993) Personal Need for Structure (PNS) Scale and is multidimensional, which, so they claim, renders the use of its total score inadmissible. By contrast, the present authors show that neither of the above assertions is incompatible with the underlying need for closure theory. Relations between NFCS and the PNS are to be expected, as these were designed to operationalize the very same construct (of need for closure). Furthermore, no unidimensionality of the NFCS has been claimed, and none is required to use its total score for testing various theoretically derived predictions. An instrument's ultimate utility hinges on theoretical considerations and empirical evidence rather than on questionable psychometric dogma unrelated to the substantive matters at hand.

D. M. Webster and A. W. Kruglanski's (1994) Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) confounds multiple dimensions and is redundant with existing instruments (S. L. Neuberg, T. N. Judice, & S. G. West, 1997). A. W. Kruglanski and his colleagues (1997) dismissed these findings as 'psychometric naysaying,' although they presented no data that refute them. Moreover, Kruglanski et al. (1997) suggested that researchers (a) be unconcerned with the NFCS's lack of discriminant validity and (b) use the scale as if it were unidimensional. These recommendations are problematic. Using the NFCS in this manner invites interpretational ambiguity and theoretical confusion. In contrast to the Kruglanski et al. (1997) position, proper psychometric analyses play a critical role in theory testing and in the development of conceptually coherent measures of individual differences.

A rank-free method of calculating Kendall's [Tau] is described. Derived from Daniels' 1944 general treatment of correlation, it is based on the signs of all possible paired comparisons in a data set. Unlike the 1975 alternative methods of Cooper and those of 1977 by Stuart, it allows for ties and thus yields the same coefficient as that of Kendall's original method. The execution is simpler, however, because it does not require ranking of data.

Although meta-analysis appears to be a useful technique to verify the existence of an effect and to summarize large bodies of literature, there are problems associated with its use and interpretation. Amongst difficulties is the 'file drawer problem.' With this problem it is assumed that a certain percentage of studies are not published or are not available to be included in any given meta-analysis. We present a cautionary table to quantify the magnitude of this problem. The table shows that distortions exaggerating the effect size are substantial and that the exaggerations of effects are strongest when the true effect size approaches zero. A meta-analysis could be very misleading were the true effect size close to zero.

Based on increasing recognition that the therapeutic relationship is critical in psychotherapy, the goal of this study was to establish the psychometric properties of a suboutcome strategy that could identify important in-session events involving patient-therapist interactions. Ten third-party observers were calibrated on a circumplex measure of suboutcome, a shortened version of the Wiggins' Interpersonal Adjective Scale-Revised. These observers rated four sessions from each of 28 cases of short-term psychotherapy. Each session was rated by thirds and selected to represent each quartile of a 40-session treatment protocol. The major findings indicated adequate interrater reliability and evidence for criterion validity that suggested a predictive relationship of patient and therapist affiliation to ultimate outcome, especially as observed early in treatment.

This study examines the relations between beliefs about the causes of rape and attitudinal and cognitive style (the tendency to think about social problems systemically, the view of people as complex and changeable, and an intellectual personality) measures in a sample of 270 community-college students. The Perceived Causes of Rape (PCR) Scale included the following subscales: Male Dominance, Society and Socialization, Female Precipitation, Male Sexuality, and Male Hostility. Beliefs about the causes of rape varied on three dimensions: individual versus sociocultural causes of rape, those causes that focus on the perpetrator versus those that focus on the victim, and rape myths versus feminist beliefs. The causes of rape identified as rape myths were associated with male sexuality stereotypes, a version of Burt's (1980) Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, attitudes toward feminism, and self-identification as a feminist. Agreement with the sociocultural causes of rape was associated with cognitive style measures and age. We suggest that belief in sociocultural causes of rape may require a predisposition to think systemically as much as an ideological stance.

Twenty relatively new suicide assessment instruments can be grouped into the following categories: (a) clinician-rated suicide instruments, (b) self-rated suicide instruments, (c) self-rated buffers against suicide, (d) instruments focused on children and adolescents, and (e) special purpose scales. The present review describes these instruments, giving the potential clinician or researcher information about their psychometric properties, strengths, and weaknesses. They vary in length and the age group for which they are designed, but most are reliable and have some psychometric evidence of validity. Of the 20, most highly recommended are Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation series, Linehan's Reasons for Living Inventory, and Cole's self-administered adaptation of Linehan's structured interview called the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire.

The media widely criticized Herrnstein and Murray's 'The Bell Curve : Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life'. Its propositions have been reviewed by many as false and pseudoscientific. However, John B. Caroll from the University of North Carolina gives support on the validity of these propositions as grounded in psychometric and behavioral genetic research. He tries to explain how these propositions should be interpreted and understood by the general public.