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Before evaluating convergent, discriminant, and known-groups validity, it is suggested to design an instrument that reflects hypothetical relationships or differences with other comparator instruments or groups. For criterion validity, a gold-standard instrument measuring the same construct should be carefully selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) has been the most widely used instrument to assess teacher efficacy beliefs. However, no study has been carried out concerning the TSES psychometric properties with teachers in Mexico, the country with the highest number of Spanish-speakers worldwide. The purpose of the present study is to examine the reliability, internal and external validity evidence of the TSES (short form) adapted into Spanish with a sample of 190 primary and secondary Mexican teachers from 25 private schools. Results of construct analysis confirm the three-factor-correlated structure of the original scale. Criterion validity evidence was established between self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Differences in self-efficacy were related to teachers’ gender, years of experience and grade level taught. Some limitations are discussed, and future research directions are recommended.

This study focused on the criterion-related validity of the Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT). The IPANAT is thought to be a measure of automatic activation of cognitive representations of affects. In this study, it was investigated whether implicit affect scores differentially predict ratings of facial emotions over and above explicit affectivity. Ninety-six young female participants completed the IPANAT, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) as an explicit measure of state and trait affectivity, and a task for the perception of facial emotions. Implicit negative affect predicted the perception of negative but not positive facial emotions, whereas implicit positive affect predicted the perception of positive but not negative facial emotions. The observed double-dissociation in the correlational pattern strongly supports the validity of the IPANAT as a measure of implicit affectivity and is indicative of the orthogonality and thus functional distinctness of the two affect dimensions of the IPANAT. Moreover, such affect-congruent correlations were absent for explicit affect scales, which additionally supports the incremental validity of the IPANAT.

The general purpose of this work is 2-fold, to validate scales and to present the methodological procedure to reduce these scales to validate a rating scale for the student evaluation of teaching in the context of a Polytechnic Higher Education Institution. We explored the relationship between the long and short versions of the scale; examine their invariance in relation to relevant variables such as gender. Data were obtained from a sample of 6,110 students enrolled in a polytechnic higher education institution, most of whom were male. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, intraclass correlation, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), confirmatory factorial analysis, correlations between the short and long form corrected for the shared error variance, gender measurement invariance, reliability using congeneric correlated factors, and correlations with academic achievement for the class as unit with an analysis following a multisection design. Results showed four highly correlated factors that do not exclude a general factor, with an excellent fit to data; configural, metric, and scalar gender measurement invariance; high reliability for both the long and short scale and subscales; high short and long-form scale correlations; and moderate but significant correlations between the long and short versions of the scales with academic performance, with individual and aggregate data collected from classes or sections. To conclude, this work shows the possibility of developing student evaluation of teaching scales with a short form scale, which maintains the same high reliability and validity indexes as the longer scale.

Objective: To design and validate a scale to evaluate the quality of life in children and adolescents with epilepsy.Methods: Scale validation, multicentered, three-phase study. We did a literature review for the construction of the instrument, and a validation of appearance, construct, criterion, and reproducibility. We evaluated the scale among the patients that consulted at the Liga Central contra la Epilepsia and the Fundación Hospital de La Misericordia (Bogotá, Colombia) between 2014 and 2015.Results: The resulting questionnaire has 4 domains, with 18-26 items according to age groups (0-3, 4-10 and 11-17 years old) and a Likert scale score from 1 to 5. The comparison with CAVE and QOLIE AD 48 was adequate (Pearson correlation coefficient between 0.713 and 0.837 according to age groups: intraclass correlation coefficient between 0.664 and 0.817.) Internal consistency was adequate (Cronbach's alpha between 0.791 and 0.809). Test-retest assessment was good, with Spearman's coefficient between 0.99 and 1.00. The time to fill out the scale ranged between 3.5 and 6.8 min.Significance: We designed and validated a quality-of-life scale in Spanish for children and adolescents with epilepsy, which is easy and quick to fill and has excellent reliability and validity parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general purpose of this work is 2-fold, to validate scales and to present the methodological procedure to reduce these scales to validate a rating scale for the student evaluation of teaching in the context of a Polytechnic Higher Education Institution. We explored the relationship between the long and short versions of the scale; examine their invariance in relation to relevant variables such as gender. Data were obtained from a sample of 6,110 students enrolled in a polytechnic higher education institution, most of whom were male. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, intraclass correlation, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), confirmatory factorial analysis, correlations between the short and long form corrected for the shared error variance, gender measurement invariance, reliability using congeneric correlated factors, and correlations with academic achievement for the class as unit with an analysis following a multisection design. Results showed four highly correlated factors that do not exclude a general factor, with an excellent fit to data; configural, metric, and scalar gender measurement invariance; high reliability for both the long and short scale and subscales; high short and long-form scale correlations; and moderate but significant correlations between the long and short versions of the scales with academic performance, with individual and aggregate data collected from classes or sections. To conclude, this work shows the possibility of developing student evaluation of teaching scales with a short form scale, which maintains the same high reliability and validity indexes as the longer scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis is the property of Nis University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A meta-analysis of the criterion-related validity of U.S. military enlistment cognitive ability tests was conducted using hands-on performance tests (HOPTs) as the criterion. In a HOPT, incumbents perform a representative sample of the tasks for a position and are evaluated by trained raters. We found operational validities in the.40s to.50s. Our meta-analytic database allowed us to investigate concerns regarding overcorrections (via use of multivariate corrections with credible applicant covariances) and provides a direct measure of job proficiency. • A meta-analysis examined the criterion-related validity of mental ability tests using hands-on performance tests. • Mental ability test scores predicted scores on hands-on performance tests with operational validities in the.40s to.50s. • Mental ability tests were excellent predictors of objective samples of job task proficiency for military occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has been conducted to evaluate the amount of attention to validity assessment process of research tools, by reviewing the articles published in knowledge & information science journals in Iran over past 10 years. In this research, articles of 8 Persian scientific and research journals in the field of knowledge & information science in Iran, published between 2006 to 2015, were analyzed in a content analysis method. In total, 1763 research articles related to 211 issues of journals were analyzed and research tools and methods for determining the validity of research tools investigated. According to research findings, there was no reference to validity of research tools in 36.87% of reviewed articles. In 23.22% of articles, only validity of research tools was confirmed but the method and procedure for determining validity were not mentioned. In 4.31% of articles, researchers stated that validity of research tools was confirmed in previous studies and therefore they did not consider the validity. In 375 articles (32.38%), the method of determining validity of tools was mentioned. In terms of the methods used to measure validity of tools, results indicated that 16.66% of articles evaluated their tool validity by face validity and 20.30% by content validity method. Of other types of validity, the criterion validity was lowest, and only 2 articles (0.17%) used this method to assess validity of their tools. 5.26% of articles also used construct validity, which has highest level of validity. Also, results showed that a very small number of journals in the research population have published articles related to psychometrics of research tools. Therefore, the knowledge & information science journals are required to pay more attention to publish articles related to validity assessment of research tools for more familiarity with this process and its importance in designing tools by researchers. Also, journals in this area should be more sensitive on report of validity assessment process of research tools in the methodology section of articles in the process of reviewing articles.

Most of the present personality measurement instruments of the country are for judging about the people in clinical contexts and they are not so much applicable in organizational contexts. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate psychometric attributes of DISC Personality Profiler (Carlson Learning Institution, 1994) and Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI, Hogan, Hogan, 1995) and their concurrent criterion validity with Myers Briggs Type Indicator (Myers, Brigs,1962) and HEXACO(Ashton, Lee,2000) in two independent studies. Samples were 230 personnel in the first, and 300 personnel in the second study selected via simple randomized technique from Isfahan Refinery and Distribution of Petroleum Products Company. Data were analyzed with percentile rank, Pearson correlation and confirmatory factor analysis .The results confirm concurrent validity of DISC and HPI. Normalization of two primary personality instruments in organizational environment. These results show that these instrument can be used in HR significant practices namely personnel selection, classification and effective succession planning.

Mobile device (e.g., smartphone) proficiency is becoming increasingly necessary to perform important everyday tasks, and inadequate proficiency can prevent groups of individuals such as older adults from obtaining the benefits of mobile computing and smartphone utilization. To facilitate mobile device training and research on barriers to mobile device use and adoption by older adults, Roque and Boot [1] developed the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ). The current study is the first to assess the validity of the MDPQ based on confirmatory factor analysis and objective measures of their smartphone skills. In addition, it represents the first attempt to validate the MDPQ on a sample of older smartphone users. Results suggest that modifications may be necessary for the MDPQ to serve as a valid and reliable measure of proficiency among older adult smartphone users. In this sense, four important implications and recommendations for application of the MDPQ are discussed that could promote the general goal of ensuring that individuals of all ages can benefit from the use of smartphone devices and services such as mobile apps.

South African universities have one of the lowest graduation rates in the world, especially amongstfirst-year university students. South Africa's first-year university students are taxed with tremendouschallenges. One of the most important amongst these challenges is considered to be academic motivation, which is strongly related to students' academic success. Despite this, to date, little work hasbeen undertaken to source and validate a reliable instrument to measure students' academic motivation. This article is based on the proposition that there is a pressing need for a valid and reliable instrumentthat measures academic motivation and its effect on students' academic success. The psychometricproperties of the Academic Motivation Scale-College version were examined for first-year university students. The findings are promising for using this scale to measure academic motivation of first-yearuniversity students.

Aim: The objective of this study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (T-DSMS). Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: This study was performed in two phases: 1) a forward-backwards translation of the existing version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS); and 2) evaluation of its psychometric properties using confirmatory factor analysis. Between February to June 2016, a total of 700 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were recruited from outpatient diabetes clinics of both community and university hospitals in Khon Kaen and Bangkok province Thailand, using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The results, based on confirmatory factor analysis using Unweighted Least Squares, confirmed the construct validity of the T-DSMS (CFI = 0.985; RMSEA = 0.258; TLI = 0.981; SRMR = 0.040). The T-DSMS contains 13 items across four domains: Diet, Blood, Exercise, and Foot care. Conclusion: We translated and appropriately validated the DSMS in Thai T2DM patients. The T-DSMS was shown to have good psychometric properties, including content validity and criterion validity. The T-DSMS is an adequate instrument with which to assess diabetes self-management in Thai T2DM patients, and can provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of diabetes self-management, and enable evaluation of prevention programs for diabetes selfmanagement in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, validity aspects of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) self-report and parent-report versions were assessed among Dutch adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (community sample: n = 962, clinical sample: n = 4,053). The findings mostly support the continued use of both SDQ versions in screening for psychosocial problems as (a) exploratory structural equation analyses partially supported the grouping of items into five scales; (b) investigation of associations between scales of the SDQ and the Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report, and Intelligence Development Scales-2 provided evidence for the SDQ versions' convergent and divergent validity; and (c) receiver operating characteristics curves yielded evidence for both SDQ versions' criterion validity by showing that these questionnaires can be used to screen for psychosocial problems, except for the adolescent-reported version for males. Regardless of the adolescent's gender, the receiver operating characteristics curves showed both SDQ versions to be useful for screening for three specific types of problems: anxiety/mood disorder, conduct/oppositional deviant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Additionally, parent-rated SDQ scores were found to be useful for screening for autism spectrum disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uchi-komi Fitness Test (UFT) is a specific judo test that evaluates physiological fitness of judo athletes in similar conditions to judo matches. Neuromuscular parameters obtained by generic and judo-specific tests would aid to get more information about its criterion validity. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between UFT and shoulder external (PTEX) and internal (PTINT) rotation torque, handgrip strength (HGS) and vertical jumps (VJs) performance. The relationship between UFT and Judogi grip strength test (JGST) was also investigated. Eighteen male judo athletes participated in this study. Athletes performed neuromuscular tests (VJ, PTEX, PTINT and HGS) and judo-specific tests (JGST and UFT). Pearson's correlation was used with the level set at p < 0.05. Significant correlation was found between UFT and all VJ variables (r = 0.50–0.72, p < 0.004), UFT a + b (two first series of UFT) and PTEX (r = 0.49, p = 0.033), UFT and PTINT (r = 0.47, p = 0.044). Also, UFT was correlated to JGST (r = 0.50–0.72, p < 0.044, respectively). We conclude that muscle power of lower limbs, PTEX and PTINT was related to UFT. Strength-endurance in the upper limbs (JGST) was also related to the UFT performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To tailor physical activity treatment programs for patients with osteoarthritis, clinicians need valid and feasible measurement tools to evaluate habitual physical activity. The widely used International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) is not previously validated in patients with osteoarthritis.Purpose: To assess the concurrent criterion validity of the IPAQ-SF in patients with osteoarthritis, using an accelerometer as a criterion-method.Method: Patients with osteoarthritis (n = 115) were recruited at The Division of Rheumatology and Research at Diakonhjemmet Hospital (Oslo, Norway). Physical activity was measured by patients wearing an accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) for seven consecutive days, followed by reporting their physical activity for the past 7 days using the IPAQ-SF. Comparison of proportions that fulfilled physical activity recommendations as measured by the two methods were tested by Pearson Chi-Square analysis. Differences in physical activity levels between the IPAQ-SF and the accelerometer were analyzed with Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Spearman rank correlation test. Bland-Altman plots were used to visualize the concurrent criterion validity for total- and intensity-specific physical activity levels.Results: In total, 93 patients provided complete physical activity data, mean (SD) age was 65 (8.7) years, 87% were women. According to the IPAQ-SF, 57% of the patients fulfilled the minimum physical activity recommendations compared to 31% according to the accelerometer (p = 0.043). When comparing the IPAQ-SF to the accelerometer we found significant under-reporting of total physical activity MET-minutes (p = < 0.001), sitting (p = < 0.001) and walking (p < 0.001), and significant over-reporting of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001). For the different physical activity levels, correlations between the IPAQ-SF and the accelerometer ranged from rho 0.106 to 0.462. The Bland-Altman plots indicated an increased divergence between the two methods with increasing time spent on moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.Conclusion: Physical activity is a core treatment of osteoarthritis. Our finding that patients tend to over-report activity of higher intensity and under-report low-intensity activity and sitting-time is of clinical importance. We conclude that the concurrent criterion validity of the IPAQ-SF was weak in patients with osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the reliability and validity of estimates of the Value per Statistical Life (VSL) from contingent valuation by administering the same contingent valuation (CV) questionnaire on samples drawn from the population of the Czech Republic five years apart. We use a novel approach in eliciting the WTP for cancer mortality risk reduction, in that we present respondents with two probabilities—that of getting cancer, and that of surviving it. We find that the cancer VSL is somewhat different across the two samples, but this difference is completely explained by income and cancer dread. The WTP is proportional to the size of the cancer mortality risk reduction, and increases with income and with cancer dread. The income elasticity of the VSL is 0.5 to 0.7, and is thus in line with the findings in Masterman and Viscusi (2018). Our estimates of the VSL (approximately €3–4 mill. May 2019 PPP euro) are close to Viscusi and Masterman's prediction (2017) based on compensating wage studies, less than the estimates from compensating wage studies conducted in the Czech Republic, and similar to estimates from other stated preference studies in the Czech Republic. We conclude that the CV questionnaire and administration procedures produce reliable and stable results, and that construct and criterion validity are likewise good. We interpret these findings as providing support for an approach that expresses very small mortality risks and risk reductions as the product of two probabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the validity of self-report measures of narcissism and mania by relating them to interview-based ratings of psychopathology. Narcissism scales were taken from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire–4+, and the Short Dark Triad. Mania measures included the Altman Self-Rated Mania Scale (ASRM) and scales taken from the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) and Expanded Version of the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms. Our analyses addressed two key issues. The first issue was whether these scales demonstrated significant criterion validity (e.g., whether the HPS scales correlated significantly with interview ratings of mania). The second issue was whether they displayed specificity to their target constructs (e.g., whether the NPI scales correlated more strongly with ratings of narcissistic personality disorder than with other forms of psychopathology). All of the narcissism scales—including all three NPI subscales—correlated significantly with interview ratings of narcissistic personality disorder and showed considerable evidence of diagnostic specificity. Most of the mania scales also displayed good criterion validity and diagnostic specificity. However, two measures—the ASRM and the HPS Social Vitality subscale—had weak, nonsignificant associations with interview ratings of manic episodes; these findings raise concerns regarding their validity as specific indicators of mania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most common instruments used in the world to measure mindfulness is the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Due to this scale has not been translated and adapted to Spanish, the purpose of this research was to examine the construct validity, internal consistency, and criterion validity in a Mexican sample. Method: The sample included 485 participants (145 men and 350 women). Results: Results found in this research revealed a good reliability of the general scale It was confirmed that the four dimensions of this inventory are significant factors of mindfulness. Regarding the confirmatory factor analysis, results showed that data fitted properly to the four factors model. Conclusion: In conclusion, this inventory is a valid and reliable instrument to measure mindfulness in general Mexican population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Psychology / Revista de Psihologie is the property of Romanian Academy Publishing House / Editura Academiei Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pedagogía Social is the property of Pedagogia Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many schools attempt to identify and service students at risk for poor mental health outcomes within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). Universal screening within a MTSS requires technically adequate tools. The Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) has been put forth as a technically adequate screener. Researchers have examined the factor structure, diagnostic accuracy, criterion validity, and internal consistency of SAEBRS data. However, previous research has not examined its temporal stability or replicated the criterion validity results with a racially/ethnically diverse urban elementary school sample. This study examined the test–retest reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity of teacher-completed SAEBRS ratings with racially/ethnically diverse group students enrolled in first through fifth grade in an urban elementary school. Reliability analyses resulted in significant test–retest reliability coefficients across four weeks for all SAEBRS scales. Furthermore, nonsignificant paired samples t tests were observed with the exception of the third-grade Emotional subscale. Validity analyses yielded significant concurrent and predictive Pearson correlation coefficients between SAEBRS ratings, oral reading fluency, and office discipline referrals. Limitations and implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of TALENT: A Multidisciplinary Scholarly Journal is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the fluctuation in time between successive heartbeats and is defined by interbeat intervals. Researchers have shown that short-term (∼5-min) and long-term (≥24-h) HRV measurements are associated with adaptability, health, mobilization, and use of limited regulatory resources, and performance. Long-term HRV recordings predict health outcomes heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Despite the prognostic value of long-term HRV assessment, it has not been broadly integrated into mainstream medical care or personal health monitoring. Although short-term HRV measurement does not require ambulatory monitoring and the cost of long-term assessment, it is underutilized in medical care. Among the diverse reasons for the slow adoption of short-term HRV measurement is its prohibitive time cost (∼5 min). Researchers have addressed this issue by investigating the criterion validity of ultra-short-term (UST) HRV measurements of less than 5-min duration compared with short-term recordings. The criterion validity of a method indicates that a novel measurement procedure produces comparable results to a currently validated measurement tool. We evaluated 28 studies that reported UST HRV features with a minimum of 20 participants; of these 17 did not investigate criterion validity and 8 primarily used correlational and/or group difference criteria. The correlational and group difference criteria were insufficient because they did not control for measurement bias. Only three studies used a limits of agreement (LOA) criterion that specified a priori an acceptable difference between novel and validated values in absolute units. Whereas the selection of rigorous criterion validity methods is essential, researchers also need to address such issues as acceptable measurement bias and control of artifacts. UST measurements are proxies of proxies. They seek to replace short-term values which, in turn, attempt to estimate long-term metrics. Further adoption of UST HRV measurements requires compelling evidence that these metrics can forecast real-world health or performance outcomes. Furthermore, a single false heartbeat can dramatically alter HRV metrics. UST measurement solutions must automatically edit artifactual interbeat interval values otherwise HRV measurements will be invalid. These are the formidable challenges that must be addressed before HRV monitoring can be accepted for widespread use in medicine and personal health care.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the fluctuation in time between successive heartbeats and is defined by interbeat intervals. Researchers have shown that short-term (∼5-min) and long-term (≥24-h) HRV measurements are associated with adaptability, health, mobilization, and use of limited regulatory resources, and performance. Long-term HRV recordings predict health outcomes heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Despite the prognostic value of long-term HRV assessment, it has not been broadly integrated into mainstream medical care or personal health monitoring. Although short-term HRV measurement does not require ambulatory monitoring and the cost of long-term assessment, it is underutilized in medical care. Among the diverse reasons for the slow adoption of short-term HRV measurement is its prohibitive time cost (∼5 min). Researchers have addressed this issue by investigating the criterion validity of ultra-short-term (UST) HRV measurements of less than 5-min duration compared with short-term recordings. The criterion validity of a method indicates that a novel measurement procedure produces comparable results to a currently validated measurement tool. We evaluated 28 studies that reported UST HRV features with a minimum of 20 participants; of these 17 did not investigate criterion validity and 8 primarily used correlational and/or group difference criteria. The correlational and group difference criteria were insufficient because they did not control for measurement bias. Only three studies used a limits of agreement (LOA) criterion that specified a priori an acceptable difference between novel and validated values in absolute units. Whereas the selection of rigorous criterion validity methods is essential, researchers also need to address such issues as acceptable measurement bias and control of artifacts. UST measurements are proxies of proxies. They seek to replace short-term values which, in turn, attempt to estimate long-term metrics. Further adoption of UST HRV measurements requires compelling evidence that these metrics can forecast real-world health or performance outcomes. Furthermore, a single false heartbeat can dramatically alter HRV metrics. UST measurement solutions must automatically edit artifactual interbeat interval values otherwise HRV measurements will be invalid. These are the formidable challenges that must be addressed before HRV monitoring can be accepted for widespread use in medicine and personal health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV) is a widely used scale that measures the core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are contradictory findings regarding factor structure. Factor structure and measurement equivalence/invariance analysis on parent and teacher SNAP-IV for children referred for an ADHD assessment (N = 250; 6-17 years), revealed a two-factor structure provided the best fit. SNAP-IV scores were also compared with clinician diagnosis of ADHD and research diagnoses of ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder. Parent ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were good predictors of research but not clinician diagnosis. For teacher ratings, only hyperactivity/impulsivity scores were associated with research and clinician diagnosis. SNAP-IV scores showed high sensitivity but low specificity to clinician diagnosis. The SNAP-IV is a valid outcome measure for use in randomized controlled trials and clinical settings, and is best used as a screening rather than a diagnostic tool for ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved characterization of quantitative traits and dimensionally distributed complex behaviors during toddlerhood may improve early identification of autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Parents of 205 community-ascertained toddlers (age: mean = 20.2, SD = 2.6 months) completed the Repetitive Behavior Scales for Early Childhood (RBS-EC) and the Video-Referenced Rating of Reciprocal Social Behavior (vrRSB), with longitudinal follow-up of behavioral assessments and/or another round of parent-report questionnaires. Criterion validity was examined both concurrently and longitudinally using the Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) as a criterion anchor. Reciprocal social behavior as measured by the vrRSB was significantly associated with social competence as measured by the ITSEA, longitudinally and concurrently. Reciprocal social behavior was not associated with the externalizing subscale on the ITSEA, providing evidence of discriminant validity. Higher-order repetitive behaviors (restricted interests; rituals and routines) as measured by RBS-EC subscales were associated with the dysregulation and internalizing subscales of the ITSEA, longitudinally and concurrently. All RBS-EC subscales (excepting repetitive motor) were associated concurrently and longitudinally with the dysregulation subscale of the ITSEA. We report evidence of criterion-oriented and discriminant validity for the constructs/domains captured by the RBS-EC and vrRSB. These instruments may be particularly useful in characterizing dimensional variability across the typical-to-atypical continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders is well documented. Recent quantitative efforts have moved toward an understanding of this phenomenon, with the general psychopathology or p -factor model emerging as the most prominent characterization. Over the past decade, bifactor model analysis has become increasingly popular as a statistical approach to describe common/shared and unique elements in psychopathology. However, recent work has highlighted potential problems with common approaches to evaluating and interpreting bifactor models. Here, we argue that bifactor models, when properly applied and interpreted, can be useful for answering some important questions in psychology and psychiatry research. We review problems with evaluating bifactor models based on global model fit statistics. We then describe more valid approaches to evaluating bifactor models and highlight 3 types of research questions for which bifactor models are well suited to answer. We also discuss the utility and limits of bifactor applications in genetic and neurobiological research. We close by comparing advantages and disadvantages of bifactor models with other analytic approaches and note that no statistical model is a panacea to rectify limitations of the research design used to gather data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maternal Behavior Q-Sort (MBQS) assesses the maternal sensitivity of mothers of 0-3 year-olds in natural contexts. This study presents the results of MBQS 3.1 convergent validity with version 2.1 and criterion validity with the Attachment Q-Sort (AQS). The sample was comprised of 27 Peruvian mothers with children between 8 and 11 months old, from a low socioeconomic sector in Lima. The mean age of the mothers was 27.96 years (SD=6.02) and most reported at least some high school education (63%). The maternal behavior profiles in MBQS 3.1 - sensitive, connected, and synchronic - correlated with values higher than .90 (p<.01). A strong positive association was found between versions 2.1 and 3.1 (r=.76, p<.01). Finally, a correlation of .44 (p<.05) was obtained with AQS. The MBQS 3.1 shows adequate validity indicators, which recommend its use for the measurement of maternal sensibility in Peru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recent technologies, such as the iPod, are often equipped with an accelerometer and magnetometer, which, through software applications, can perform various inclinometric functions. These applications have the potential to measure and quantify range of motion (ROM). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the iPod "Gyroscope" application intra- and inter-rater reliability as well as its criterion validity in healthy participants lumbar ROM assessment. METHODS: The sample consisted of 29 healthy participants. For the estimation of intra- and inter-reliability, two examiners measured the lumbar ROM of each participant twice using the iPod. To estimate the criterion validity, the measures were compared to those obtained with the Back Range of Motion Device (BROM; lateral flexion) and the double inclinometer (flexion and extension). Reliability and validity were then established using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: We observed a moderate to high intra-rater reliability (ICCs = 0.67–0.91) and a moderate to high inter-rater reliability for each movement (ICCs = 0.72–0.89). For the criterion validity, the ICCs were all high (ICCs = 0.65–0.89). CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that the iPod "Gyroscope" application can be used to assess lumbar ROM for all movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of children and adolescents are insufficiently physically active. Self-efficacy is considered one of the most important determinants of physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to validate the German version of the physical activity self-efficacy scale by means of a multi-level approach. Factorial validity, internal consistency and criterion validity were examined for the individual and the class level.Methods: The final sample comprised 454 female sixth-graders of 33 classes. To examine the factorial validity of the translated 8-item scale, a multi-level confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with the lavaan package in R. Internal consistency was estimated with the alpha function of the psych package. Criterion validity was examined by correlating self-efficacy with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) assessed with accelerometers.Results: In contrast to previous validation studies, a unidimensional structure of the scale was not supported. Instead, two highly correlated (rindividual = .87; rclass = .69) but distinct latent factors, representing PA self-efficacy and social support from family and friends, were differentiated on both the individual and class level. The best overall fit exhibited a multi-level 1 × 1-model, including only the six items measuring PA self-efficacy (χ2 = 32.10, CFI = .986, TLI = .976, RMSEA = .059, SRMR = .035). Internal consistencies for the complete 8-item scale and the 6-item scale were good on the individual level and excellent on the class level. For the two items measuring social support, Cronbach's alpha was low on the individual and excellent on the class level. Weak relations between self-efficacy and MVPA were found for the individual level, strong associations were found for the class level.Conclusions: The validation speaks for the use of the abridged 6-item scale, which allows for a unidimensional assessment of PA self-efficacy. Generally, the results support the relevance of a multi-level approach, which not only differentiates between self-efficacy on the individual level and on the class level but also between the respective implications regarding reliability and criterion validity on both levels. Thereby, this study offers a rigorously validated scale and further illustrates possible consequences of the usual neglect of group-level variance in scale validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment was revised to include Likert ratings (DIPA-L) to give a broader range of severity ratings that may have greater utility for clinical and research purposes. In addition, the instrument was updated for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5), and two types of Likert ratings-frequency versus problem intensity-were explored for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Concurrent construct validation and test-retest reliability were examined for the five most common disorders seen in very young children in outpatient clinics: PTSD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A sixth disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), which was created in DSM-5, was tested for the first time. Functional impairment was also examined. Methods: The caregivers of 58 two- through six-year-old children (57 mothers and 1 father) were recruited from an outpatient clinic. They were interviewed at Time 1, and 52 were reinterviewed at Time 2 by research assistants (children's age M 4.7 years, standard deviation 1.2). Results: Few differences were found between the ratings of frequency versus problem intensity for PTSD symptoms. Tests of concurrent criterion validation were acceptable for all disorders when compared against disorder-specific questionnaires; the range of Pearson correlation coefficients was 0.56-0.94. A trend for attenuation of diagnoses from Time 1 to Time 2 was evident, but not statistically significant. Test-retest reliabilities were strong when examined with continuous Likert scores, except for GAD (the range of intraclass correlation coefficients values was 0.29-0.91, but were less consistent for categorical disorder-level status [the range of Cohen's κs was 0.35-0.79]). The range of internal consistencies was 0.78-0.95, excluding DMDD, which could not be calculated. Conclusions: The updated and revised DIPA-L demonstrated many acceptable features of a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of very young children. While the findings are tentative given the small sample size, the DIPA-L is the only diagnostic instrument for young children with a replication, tested in clinic populations, updated for DSM-5, with psychometrics for functional impairment, and has Likert ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first study in the Asia-Pacific region to examine the criterion validity of the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short form (IPAQ-SF) using accelerometers, in terms of achieving the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended physical activity guidelines for health benefits. Vietnamese adults aged 40-65 years (n = 240) wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer for at least 5 days and completed the Vietnamese version of the IPAQ-SF. Correlations between IPAQ-SF and accelerometer-measured physical activity intensities varied from .087 to .232. Mean difference in moderate-vigorous physical activity was 0.699 min/day (95% limits: [-107, 109]). Agreement on the classification of achieving the WHO's physical activity guidelines was 69.16%. The IPAQ-SF identified 71.86% of adults who met the guidelines, whereas 56.09% of those not meeting the guidelines were classified correctly. The IPAQ-SF was found to have acceptable criterion validity and is a useful instrument to classify Vietnamese adults as achieving or not achieving the WHO's physical activity guidelines for health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study validated sedentary behaviour (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) accelerometer cut-points in 5–7-year-old children. Participants (n = 49, 55% girls) wore an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer, recording data at 100 Hz downloaded in 1 s epochs, on both wrists and the right hip during a standardised protocol and recess. Cut-points were generated using ROC analysis with direct observation as a criterion. Subsequently, cut-points were optimised using Confidence intervals equivalency analysis and then cross-validated in a cross-validation group. SB cut-points were 36 mg (Sensitivity (Sn) = 79.8%, Specificity (Sp) = 56.8%) for non-dominant wrist, 39 mg (Sn = 75.4%, Sp = 70.2%) for dominant wrist and 20 mg (Sn = 78%, Sp = 50.1%) for hip. MVPA cut-points were 189 mg (Sn = 82.6%, Sp = 78%) for non-dominant wrist, 181 mg (Sn = 79.1%, Sp = 76%) for dominant wrist and 95 mg (Sn = 79.3%, Sp = 75.6%) for hip. VPA cut-points were 536 mg (Sn = 75.1%, Sp = 68.7%) for non-dominant wrist, 534 mg (Sn = 67.6%, Sp = 95.6%) for dominant wrist and 325 mg (Sn = 78.2%, Sp = 96.1%) for hip. All placements demonstrated adequate levels of accuracy for SB and PA assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web surveys are an established data collection mode that use written language to provide information. The written language is accompanied by visual elements, such as presentation formats and shapes. However, research has shown that visual elements influence response behavior because respondents sometimes use interpretive heuristics to make sense of the visual elements. One such heuristic is the 'left and top means first' (LTMF) heuristic, which suggests that respondents tend to believe that a response scale consistently runs from left to right or from top to bottom. We conducted a web survey experiment to investigate how violations of the LTMF heuristic affect response behavior and data quality. For this purpose, a random half of respondents received response options that followed a consistent order and the other half received response options that followed an inconsistent order. The results reveal significantly different response distributions between the two groups. We also found that inconsistently ordered response options significantly increase response times and decrease data quality in terms of criterion validity. We, therefore, recommend using options that follow the design strategies of the LTMF heuristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What type of items, keyed positively or negatively, makes social-emotional skill or personality scales more valid? The present study examines the different criterion validities of true- and false-keyed items, before and after correction for acquiescence. The sample included 12,987 children and adolescents from 425 schools of the State of São Paulo Brazil (ages 11–18 attending grades 6–12). They answered a computerized 162-item questionnaire measuring 18 facets grouped into five broad domains of social-emotional skills, i.e.: Open-mindedness (O), Conscientious Self-Management (C), Engaging with others (E), Amity (A), and Negative-Emotion Regulation (N). All facet scales were fully balanced (3 true-keyed and 3 false-keyed items per facet). Criterion validity coefficients of scales composed of only true-keyed items versus only false-keyed items were compared. The criterion measure was a standardized achievement test of language and math ability. We found that coefficients were almost as twice as big for false-keyed items' scales than for true-keyed items' scales. After correcting for acquiescence coefficients became more similar. Acquiescence suppresses the criterion validity of unbalanced scales composed of true-keyed items. We conclude that balanced scales with pairs of true and false keyed items make a better scale in terms of internal structural and predictive validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Unterrichtswissenschaft (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Investigated internal consistency reliability and criterion validity of the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS) in a well-characterized sample of 120 children ( X ¯ age = 9.91; autism [AUT] n = 54; non-autism [NOT] n = 66) who completed comprehensive outpatient evaluations with a gold-standard measure, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2. With the exception of a low Cognitive alpha in the AUT group, internal consistency reliabilities ranged from moderate to high. Significant between-group mean differences were observed for all scores. Receiver operating characteristic analyses indicated Area Under the Curve in the fair range (.71). Cutoff points and interpretation are discussed. The ASDS appears most useful in cases of either low or high scores or as an adjuvant to gold-standard measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike other data collection modes, the effect of labeling rating scales on reliability and validity, as relevant aspects of measurement quality, has seldom been addressed in online surveys. In this study, verbal and numeric rating scales were compared in split-ballot online survey experiments. In the first experiment, respondents' cognitive processes were observed by means of eye tracking, that is, determining the respondent's fixations in different areas of the screen. In the remaining experiments, data for reliability and validity analysis were collected from a German adult sample. The results show that respondents needed more fixations and more time to endorse a category when a rating scale had numeric labels. Cross-sectional reliability was lower and some hypotheses with respect to the criterion validity could not be supported when numeric rating scales were used. In conclusion, theoretical considerations and the empirical results contradict the current broad usage of numeric scales in online surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTPS) is a 45-item self-report measure of perfectionism with three overarching factors: rigid, self-critical, and narcissistic perfectionism. Our objective was to create a brief version of the BTPS, the Big Three Perfectionism Scale–Short Form (BTPS-SF). Sixteen items were selected, and confirmatory factor analysis using a large sample of Canadian university students (N = 607) revealed the BTPS-SF had acceptable model fit. Moreover, the BTPS-SF displayed strong test–retest reliability. The relationships of the BTPS-SF factors with depression, anxiety, stress, emotional intelligence, personality, resiliency, and elements of subjective well-being also suggested adequate criterion validity. Overall, results suggest the BTPS-SF represents an efficient, easily administered, and novel means of assessing multidimensional perfectionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) introduced somatic symptom and related disorders (SSD) to improve the diagnosis of somatoform disorders. It is unclear whether existing questionnaires are useful to identify patients with SSD. Our study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) in combination with the Somatic Symptom Disorder – B Criteria Scale (SSD-12). Methods: For this cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from a psychosomatic outpatient clinic. PHQ-15, SSS-8, and SSD-12 were administered and compared with SSD criteria from a diagnostic interview. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for optimal individual and combined cutpoints. Receiver operator curves were created and area under the curve (AUC) analyses assessed. Results: Data of n = 372 patients [31.2% male, mean age: 39.3 years (s.d. = 13.6)] were analyzed. A total of 56.2% fulfilled the SSD criteria. Diagnostic accuracy was moderate for each questionnaire (PHQ-15: AUC = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.65–0.76; SSS-8: AUC = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.66–0.77; SSD-12: AUC = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.69–0.80). Combining questionnaires improved diagnostic accuracy (PHQ-15 + SSD-12: AUC = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.72–0.82; SSS-8 + SSD-12: AUC = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.74–0.84). Optimal combined cutpoints were ⩾9 for the PHQ-15 or SSS-8, and ⩾23 for the SSD-12 (sensitivity and specificity = 69% and 70%). Conclusions: The combination of the PHQ-15 or SSS-8 with the SSD-12 provides an easy-to-use and time- and cost-efficient opportunity to identify persons at risk for SSD. If systematically applied in routine care, effective screening and subsequent treatment might help to improve quality of life and reduce health care excess costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]