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The functional approach of emotion regulation has been mainly used in the clinical context. However, other fields such as traffic psychology have also adopted this perspective, showing interest in how difficulties in emotion regulation might interfere in driving. Various driving styles have been associated with maladaptive emotion regulation. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is the most commonly used instrument to assess ER difficulties and it is often used in the context of driving. Most studies have scored DERS by using procedures of the classical test theory approach instead of advanced psychometrics. In this study, a sample of 318 male drivers aged between 20 and 69 (M age = 41.6 years, SD = 11.0) completed the DERS. The total sample was divided in two halves: drivers with road traffic offences and matched controls. Data analysis was carried out using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM). Results indicated that response categories performed inadequately. Collapsing the 5 original categories into 3 new categories was necessary. To meet the unidimensionality requirement, both the first DERS item and the awareness subscale were removed. Model-data fit was then good enough. Item Separation Reliability (ISR = 0.97) was excellent and Person Separation Reliability (PSR = 0.89) was quite good. Even though requirements of invariant measurement were met, there was low validity evidence for the driving context.

Little is known about the role of emotion regulation in driving. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of one of the most commonly-used tests for the evaluation of emotion regulation in a drivers' sample.A total of 318 male drivers (M age = 41.6 years, SD = 11.1, age range 20-69 years, half with road traffic offences and half, matched controls), participated in the study by filling out the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data analysis was carried out using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM).The performance of the response categories was inadequate. After collapsing the seven original response categories into three, the categories were functional, the unidimensionality requirement was met, and data-model fit was adequate. Both person reliability and item reliability were adequate for the two subscales of ERQ. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the cognitive reappraisal subscale.Given the adequate psychometric properties of the ERQ, it is suggested that the role of cognitive reappraisal in driving contexts be explored in depth.

Resumen Durante la infancia y la adolescencia la regulación de las emociones tiene repercusiones en diferentes ámbitos, tanto en estas etapas como en la vida adulta. El objetivo de este artículo fue evaluar un test de regulación emocional, Emotional Regulation Checklist (ERC), utilizando el CET-R como marco de referencia. Se analizaron 71 artículos que emplearon el ERC para la evaluación de la regulación emocional. La información se clasificó teniendo en cuenta la descripción del test, su fiabilidad y validez. Todos los resultados de fiabilidad se mostraron mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. En relación a la validez, fue adecuado el promedio de las correlaciones del ERC con sus criterios, pero con algunas carencias. Es recomendable plantear investigaciones con modelos psicométricos avanzados. Abstract Emotion regulation during childhood and adolescence has implications in different areas, both in these stages and in adult life. The objective of this article was to evaluate an emotional regulation test, Emotional Regulation Checklist (ERC), using CET-R as a frame of reference. We analyzed 71 articles that used the ERC for the evaluation of emotional regulation. The information was sorted according to test description, reliability and validity. All reliability results were shown using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. In relation to validity the average of the ERC correlations with the criteria was adequate but with some shortcomings. It is advisable to conduct research using advanced psychometric models. Resumo A regulação das emoções na infância e adolescência tem implicações em diferentes áreas, tanto nestas fases como na vida adulta. O objetivo deste artigo foi avaliar um teste de regulação emocional, Emotional Regulation Checklist (ERC), usando o CET-R como marco de referência. Foram analisados 71 artigos que utilizaram o ERC para a avaliação da regulação emocional. A informação foi classificada de acordo com a descrição do teste, confiabilidade e validade. Todos os resultados de confiabilidade foram mostrados usando o coeficiente alfa Cronbach. Em relação à validade, a média das correlações do ERC com os critérios foi adequada, mas com algumas falhas. É aconselhável a realização de pesquisas utilizando modelos psicométricos avançados.

Various traditions have investigated the relationship between emotion and language. For the basic emotions view, emotional prototypes are lexically sedimented in language, evidenced in cultural convergence in emotional recognition and expression tasks. For constructionist theories, conceptual knowledge supported by language is at the core of emotions. Understanding emotion words is embedded in various interrelated constructs such as emotional intelligence, emotion knowledge or emotion differentiation, and is related to, but different from, general vocabulary. A clear advantage of Emotion Vocabulary over most emotion-related constructs is that it can be measured objectively. In two successive corpus-based studies, we tested the predictions of concordance and absolute agreement on the frequency of use of a total of 100 Spanish emotion labels in the eight main Spanish-speaking areas: Spain, Mexico-Central America, River Plate, Continental Caribbean, Andean, Antilles, Chilean, and the United States. In both studies, the intraclass correlation coefficient was statistically different from the null and very large, over .95, as was the Kendall's concordance coefficient, indicating broad consensus among the Spanish linguistic areas. From an applied perspective, our results provide supporting evidence for the similarity in frequency, and therefore cross-cultural generalizability regarding familiarity of the 100 emotion labels as item stems or as experimental stimuli without going through a process of additional adaptation. On a broader scope, these results add evidence on the role of language for emotion theories. In this regard, countries and regions compared here share the same Spanish language, but differ in several aspects in history, culture, and socio-economic structure.

espanolLa evaluacion de la regulacion emocional no solo requiere del conocimiento del constructo y de los test que lo evaluan sino tambien de la calidad de esos instrumentos. El objetivo de este articulo fue analizar, mediante el Cuestionario de Evaluacion de Test Revisado, las propiedades psicometricas de los dos test mas empleados en la evaluacion de la regulacion emocional, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) y Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Se analizaron 653 articulos que describian estudios en los que se emplearon estos test. La evidencia de validez de criterio difiere entre ambos tanto cualitativa como cuantitativamente. La fiabilidad expresada en coeficientes de consistencia interna puede valorarse positivamente en ambos test. Dado que la mayoria de las investigaciones emplearon una metodologia basada en la Teoria Clasica de los Test se recomienda abordar el estudio de las propiedades de estos test desde modelos psicometricos avanzados. EnglishThe assessment of emotion regulation requires not only knowledge of the construct and the tests that evaluate it, but also of the quality of those instruments. The objective of this article is to analyze, using the Revised Test Evaluation Questionnaire, the psychometric properties of the two most commonly used tests in the evaluation of emotion regulation, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). We analyzed 653 articles describing studies in which these tests were used. Evidence of criterion validity differs between the two both qualitatively and quantitatively. The reliability expressed as internal consistency coefficients was positively evaluated in both tests. Given that most of the investigations used a methodology based on classical test theory, it is recommended to consider the study of the properties of these tests based on advanced psychometric models.

The objective of this study was the validation of the Colombian version of The Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) by means of the Rasch Rating Scale Model. The Q-CHAT was applied to parents of 100 typically developing toddlers and 40 toddlers and preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Q-CHAT scores showed some limitations. The questionnaire did not meet the condition of unidimensionality. Two dimensions were detected. The first dimension, with 13 items and 4 response categories (13i-4c), showed good psychometric properties: the items fit the Rasch Rating Scale model, the reliability of persons and items was appropriate, and scores adequately discriminate between children with and without ASD. The second dimension is a measure of traits that are usually associated with ASD, but that have shown validity problems. Thus, it is proposed that dimension 1 of the Q-CHAT (13i-4c) be used as the screening tool for ASD in Colombia. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

espanolEste articulo presenta un analisis fenomenologico cuyo objetivo es conocer la experiencia de los condenados a muerte a partir de sus ultimas palabras. La muestra se compone de 61 transcripciones de las personas ejecutadas por el Estado de Texas entre 2011 y 2017,que fueron analizadas tematicamente. Entre los temas principales se encuentran la expresion de afecto, las creencias religiosas, el arrepentimiento, la aceptacion, el agradecimiento y el sentido de cierre. La mayor parte de los temas hallados son de caracter positivo, lo que es coherente con los hallazgos de investigaciones previas. Al ser un metodo experiencial y descriptivo, la evaluacion de la integridad metodologica ofrece escasa dificultad. EnglishThis paper describes a phenomenological analysis whose goal is to learn the experience of death row inmates from their last statements. The sample is composed of 61 transcriptions from people executed by the U.S. state of Texas between 2011 and 2017, that were analyzed thematically. Among the main themes we found affection, religious belief, regret, acceptance, gratefulness and sense of closure. Most themes were of positive valence, which is coherent with previous research results. Because we used an experiential and descriptive method, the assessment of methodological integrityis uncomplicated.

Objetivo: Comparar dos sistemas de puntuación para un test de fluidez verbal con el Modelo de Escalas de Calificación. Método: Se analizaron datos de 289 participantes, de los cuales 92 habían sido diagnosticados con Parkinson. Las puntuaciones se calcularon con dos sistemas de categorización: un procedimiento convencional y otro basado en percentiles. Resultados: Las puntuaciones Rasch procedentes de percentiles dan lugar a categorías adecuadas y medidas fiables; la correlación con las puntuaciones del test Minimental es evidencia de validez concurrente. Tras controlar estadísticamente el efecto de la edad, las medidas Rasch procedentes de percentiles discriminan entre ambos grupos, lo que evidencia validez predictiva. Conclusiones: El análisis de los dos procedimientos permite recomendar el uso de las categorías basadas en percentiles.

[EN]Differential item functioning (DIF) is of the utmost importance in order to corroborate the generalized validity of test scores in different groups. DIF indicates that an item does not function equally in different groups such as age, gender or cultural ones. Our objective was to contrast the generalized validity of the Emotion Knowledge (EK) test scores in a heterogeneous Argentinian sample composed of 100 females and 100 males (age range: 18–65). Data from the original validation sample (200 Spanish participants, half of them males) were conjointly analyzed (total n = 400). Results of the Rasch Model (RM) analysis indicated that both fit to the RM and reliability (ISR = .97, PSR = .80) were adequate. Item logit measures ranged from -3.89 to 3.68, and person logit measures ranged from -1.12 to 5.09, with a mean value of 2.36. DIF was tested for gender, age, educational level and country, with a few item contrasts found to be statistically significant. Even though small significant differences in EK scores were associated with educational level (d = .25) and country (d = -.25), they became non-significant after removing the seven country-related DIF affected items. We can conclude that there is enough evidence for the generalized validity of EK test scores in Argentina. Given that recent theories of human emotion consider conceptual knowledge supported by language as constitutive of emotions, the EK test can be used in academic or applied settings where individual differences in emotional competence might be relevant., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO). Proyecto Grant PSI2014-52369-P

This paper presents an exploratory and sequential mixed methods approach in validating measures of knowledge of the moral emotions of contempt, anger and disgust.The sample comprised 60 participants in the qualitative phase when a measurement instrument was designed. Item stems, response options and correction keys were planned following the results obtained in a descriptive phenomenological analysis of the interviews. In the quantitative phase, the scale was used with a sample of 102 Spanish participants, and the results were analysed with the Rasch model.In the qualitative phase, salient themes included reasons, objects and action tendencies. In the quantitative phase, good psychometric properties were obtained. The model fit was adequate. However, some changes had to be made to the scale in order to improve the proportion of variance explained.Substantive and methodological im-plications of this mixed-methods study are discussed. Had the study used a single re-search method in isolation, aspects of the global understanding of contempt, anger and disgust would have been lost.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar, com o Modelo de Rasch, um inventário de sintomas obsessivo-compulsivo (ISOC), trabalhado por Rosa e Baptista, em 2008, que consiste de 105 itens de sintomas característicos da perturbação obsessivo-compulsiva (POC). Duzentos evinte pacientes (87 com diagnóstico de POC e 133 sem esta perturbação) preencheram o ISOC (Rosa & Baptista, 2008) e a SCL-90-R (Derogatis, 1977). Verificou-se que as categorias de resposta se revelaram adequadas, embora 27 itens tenham mostrado funcionamentodiferencial entre grupos (com POC/sem POC) e entre sexos, pelo que foram excluídos. A versão final do inventário ficou composta por 78 itens com cinco categorias de resposta que cumpriram os critérios estabelecidos (Linacre, 2002) e apresentaram qualidades psicométricasadequadas. Assim, os resultados evidenciaram que o ISOC é uma medida válida, confiável e útil como instrumento de screening para avaliar os sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos.

Resumen Introduccion El uso clinico del mindfulness ha aumentado en los ultimos anos, y la Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) se ha convertido en uno de los instrumentos mas empleados para su medida. El objetivo de esta investigacion fue analizar la eficacia del entrenamiento en mindfulness y las propiedades psicometricas de las puntuaciones de la MAAS en una muestra clinica mediante el modelo de Rasch. Metodos Se seleccionaron 199 sujetos con sintomatologia ansioso-depresiva. El grupo experimental (n = 103) recibio un entrenamiento grupal en mindfulness y el grupo control (n = 96) un tratamiento ambulatorio convencional con la misma duracion. Se analizaron las puntuaciones pre y pos en la MAAS para valorar la eficacia del entrenamiento, las propiedades psicometricas de las puntuaciones y el funcionamiento diferencial de los items (DIF) usando el Modelo de Escalas de Calificacion (MEC). Resultados Los items 9 y 12 desajustaron, el item 9 mostro DIF, y se observaron problemas de traduccion al castellano en los items 5, 9 y 12. Se decide repetir el analisis eliminandolos. Los resultados de la version reducida MAAS-12 mostraron valores adecuados en dimensionalidad, ajuste y fiabilidad. Conclusiones Contrariamente a los resultados de otros trabajos, la MAAS fue sensible al cambio producido por el entrenamiento. La version habitualmente empleada presenta problemas metricos y de traduccion y debe revisarse. La escala MAAS-12 es metricamente mejor que la habitualmente empleada, pero adolece de infrarrepresentacion del constructo. Se recomienda construir instrumentos desde una perspectiva teorica coherente, de modo que todas las facetas del atributo se vean representadas.

The clinical use of mindfulness has increased recently, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) has become one of the most used tools to measure it. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of mindfulness training and analyzing the psychometric properties of the MAAS scores in a clinical sample using the Rasch Model.One hundred and ninety-nine participants with mood-anxiety clinical symptoms were recruited. The experimental group (n=103) received mindfulness training, and the control group (n=96) a conventional outpatient treatment for the same duration. The pre-post MAAS scores were analyzed to test the effectiveness of training, the psychometric properties of the scores, and differential item functioning (DIF) using the Rating Scale Model (RSM).Misfit in items 9 and 12, DIF in item 9, and Spanish translation problems in the items 5, 9 and 12 were observed. The repetition of the analysis without these items was decided. Appropriate dimensionality, fit and reliability values were obtained with the short version, MAAS-12.Contrary to previous studies, the MAAS was sensitive to treatment-associated change. However, the commonly used MAAS has some translation and metric problems, and should be revised. MAAS-12 is a better scale than MAAS but suffers from construct under-representation. Constructing tools from a coherent theoretical perspective is suggested, so that all mindfulness facets are represented.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar sistemáticamente los instrumentos que se utilizan para estudiar la dependencia y la discapacidad en las personas mayores de 65 años y los predictores empleados en el análisis de la trayectoria de deterioro funcional en esta población. La búsqueda se realizó en la base de datos Scopus de donde se seleccionaron, utilizando categorías creadas ad hoc, 23 investigaciones de los 734 resúmenes disponibles. Los instrumentos y predictores se codificaron según el formato de presentación, el dominio de actividad y la medida empleada (discapacidad o dependencia). Los resultados muestran limitaciones en la conceptualización y elección de las medidas, debido a que no se emplea una definición estandarizada de los constructos y a las interpretaciones inadecuadas de las puntuaciones de los tests. Investigaciones futuras deberían diferenciar explícitamente la dependencia de la discapacidad y validar adecuadamente los instrumentos ya existentes, o bien construir nuevos tests haciendo uso de modelos psicométricos modernos.

Consistent with current emotion theory, we should note that contempt is not a homogeneous category but rather shows intracategorial variability. Previous research on Spanish samples shows a communicative structure in which contempt is felt towards intimate, social or abstract receivers, for reciprocal, altruistic or prejudiced reasons. Our objective was to test, on a large and heterogeneous sample, the previously found structure and variations of the experience of contempt as well as its spontaneous facial expression. Testing the association of contempt varieties with certain subject attributes was a secondary goal. Results from 130 participants from the Spanish general population corroborated the previously found structure and varieties, as well as the associations between contempt receiver and attribution. No relation was found with sex, age or emotion recognition ability. As to spontaneous facial expression, disgust was more often expressed by those who narrated their personal episodes of contempt for reciprocal reasons, and was less often expressed by the people who described prejudiced scenarios. This result indicates that the conventionally considered facial expression of contempt is not the only one, as already stated by Darwin, and should not be considered as such by experimental and psychometric procedures.

Our objective was to conduct a validation study of the Portuguese version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) by means of the Rasch Rating Scale Model, and then compare it with the most used scales of anxiety in Portugal. The sample consisted of 1,160 adults (427 men and 733 women), aged 18-82 years old (M=33.39; SD=11.85). Instruments were Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. It was found that Beck Anxiety Inventory's system of four categories, the data-model fit, and people reliability were adequate. The measure can be considered as unidimensional. Gender and age-related differences were not a threat to the validity. BAI correlated significantly with other anxiety measures. In conclusion, BAI shows good psychometric quality. Foi objetivo a validação da versão portuguesa do Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) mediante o modelo Rasch Rating Scale e a sua comparação com as escalas mais usadas de ansiedade em Portugal. A amostra consistia de 1160 adultos (427 homens e 733 mulheres) com idades entre 18-82 anos (M = 33,39; DP = 11,85). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: BAI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory e Zung Anxiety Scale. Verificou-se que o sistema de quatro categorias, o ajuste dos dados ao modelo e a fidelidade das pessoas eram adequados. A medida é unidimensional. O género e as diferenças relacionadas com a idade não se mostraram ameaças à validade. O BAI correlaciona-se significativamente com as restantes medidas de ansiedade. Conclui-se que o instrumento apresenta boa qualidade psicométrica.

Resumen El objetivo fue construir ítems de comprensión emocional desde la perspectiva del Modelo de Rasch, comparando mediante un experimento aleatorizado los formatos de respuesta verbal/imagen. Participaron 204 sujetos de población general. Se contrastó el efecto del formato (verbal/imagen) y del género en las medidas Rasch de comprensión de emociones de los participantes y se analizó el efecto de la distancia social (cerca/lejos) sobre la dificultad Rasch de los ítems. El formato de respuesta tuvo un efecto significativo sobre las medidas independientemente del género: el formato verbal resultó más fácil que el de imagen. El efecto del género fue significativo, favorable a las mujeres. Los ítems que describían situaciones con receptores cercanos resultaron más fáciles que los que incluían receptores lejanos. Abstract The aim of this study was to construct emotion understanding items from the Rasch Model approach by experimenting through comparison between verbal /image response format. The participants were 204 subjects from a Spanish community sample. A randomized experiment was carried out to test the effect of response format (verbal/ image) and participants’ gender on the emotion understanding Rasch measurements. The effect on item difficulty of the social distance (close/far) was also contrasted. No interaction effect was found. Response format had a significant effect on measurement regardless of gender: the verbal response format was easier than the image one. There were significant gender differences on emotion understanding favoring women. Items describing situations with close receivers were significantly easier than the items showing far recipients.

Introduction: Comparing the height of males and females would be impossible if the measuring device did not have the same properties for both populations. In a similar way, the cognitive level of diverse groups of patients should not be compared if the test has different measurement properties for these groups. Lack of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) is a condition for measurement invariance between populations. Material and methods: The most internationally used screening test for dementia, the MMSE (or Mini-mental State Examination), has been analysed using an advanced psychometric technique, the Rasch Model. The objective was to determine the invariance of mini-mental measurements from diverse groups: Parkinson's disease patients, Alzheimer's type dementia and normal subjects. The hypothesis was that the scores would not show DIF against any of these groups. The total sample was composed of 400 subjects. Results: Significant differences between groups were found. However, the quantitative comparison only makes sense if no evidence against measurement invariance was found: given the kind of items showing DIF against Parkinson's disease patients, the MMSE seems to underestimate the cognitive level of these patients. Conclusions: Despite the extended use of this test, 11 items out of 30 show DIF and consequently score comparisons between groups are not justified. Resumen: Introducción: Sería imposible comparar la estatura de los varones y las mujeres si el metro no tuviese las mismas propiedades en ambas poblaciones. De forma similar, no se debería comparar el deterioro cognitivo de sujetos con distintas patologías si el test empleado no tuviese las mismas propiedades métricas en los grupos analizados. La ausencia de funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems (DIF) es una condición de la invarianza métrica entre poblaciones. Material y métodos: Este artículo analiza el test de cribado de la demencia más utilizado internacionalmente, el Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), mediante un modelo psicométrico avanzado, el modelo de Rasch, con el objetivo de poner a prueba la invarianza de las medidas obtenidas en distintos grupos: pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer y sujetos normales. Para ello, se ha contrastado la hipótesis de que el MMSE no muestra DIF contra ninguno de estos grupos en una muestra total de 400 sujetos. Resultados: Los resultados del análisis indican que existen diferencias significativas entre los grupos; sin embargo, la comparación cuantitativa sólo tiene sentido si no existe evidencia en contra de la invarianza métrica: dado el tipo de ítems que muestran DIF contra el grupo de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, cabe pensar que el MMSE podría estar sobreestimando el nivel de deterioro cognitivo de estos pacientes. Conclusiones: Pese a lo extendido del uso del MMSE, el funcionamiento de 11 de sus 30 ítems no es igual para los distintos grupos por lo que la comparación de las puntuaciones no estaría justificada. Keywords: Screening test, Mini-mental State Examination, Testing, DIF, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's type dementia, Palabras clave: Prueba de cribado, Test Mini-mental, Psicometría, Funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems, Enfermedad de Parkinson, Demencia tipo Alzheimer

Resumen: Introducción: Sería imposible comparar la estatura de los varones y las mujeres si el metro no tuviese las mismas propiedades en ambas poblaciones. De forma similar, no se debería comparar el deterioro cognitivo de sujetos con distintas patologías si el test empleado no tuviese las mismas propiedades métricas en los grupos analizados. La ausencia de funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems (DIF) es una condición de la invarianza métrica entre poblaciones. Material y métodos: Este artículo analiza el test de cribado de la demencia más utilizado internacionalmente, el Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), mediante un modelo psicométrico avanzado, el modelo de Rasch, con el objetivo de poner a prueba la invarianza de las medidas obtenidas en distintos grupos: pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer y sujetos normales. Para ello, se ha contrastado la hipótesis de que el MMSE no muestra DIF contra ninguno de estos grupos en una muestra total de 400 sujetos. Resultados: Los resultados del análisis indican que existen diferencias significativas entre los grupos; sin embargo, la comparación cuantitativa sólo tiene sentido si no existe evidencia en contra de la invarianza métrica: dado el tipo de ítems que muestran DIF contra el grupo de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, cabe pensar que el MMSE podría estar sobreestimando el nivel de deterioro cognitivo de estos pacientes. Conclusiones: Pese a lo extendido del uso del MMSE, el funcionamiento de 11 de sus 30 ítems no es igual para los distintos grupos por lo que la comparación de las puntuaciones no estaría justificada. Abstract: Introduction: Comparing the height of males and females would be impossible if the measuring device did not have the same properties for both populations. In a similar way, the cognitive level of diverse groups of patients should not be compared if the test has different measurement properties for these groups. Lack of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) is a condition for measurement invariance between populations. Material and methods: The most internationally used screening test for dementia, the MMSE (or Mini-mental State Examination), has been analysed using an advanced psychometric technique, the Rasch Model. The objective was to determine the invariance of mini-mental measurements from diverse groups: Parkinson's disease patients, Alzheimer's type dementia and normal subjects. The hypothesis was that the scores would not show DIF against any of these groups. The total sample was composed of 400 subjects. Results: Significant differences between groups were found. However, the quantitative comparison only makes sense if no evidence against measurement invariance was found: given the kind of items showing DIF against Parkinson's disease patients, the MMSE seems to underestimate the cognitive level of these patients. Conclusions: Despite the extended use of this test, 11 items out of 30 show DIF and consequently score comparisons between groups are not justified. Palabras clave: Prueba de cribado, Test Mini-mental, Psicometría, Funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems, Enfermedad de Parkinson, Demencia tipo Alzheimer, Keywords: Screening test, Mini-mental State Examination, Testing, DIF, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's type dementia

O objetivo do estudo foi construir um teste de reconhecimento pelo modelo de Rach composto por 64 itens de reconhecimento, 32 itens estudados e 32 distratores. Os itens compreendiam pares de palavras escritas ou de figuras, eram modais ou transmodais e metade pertencia a uma mesma categoria semântica e metade a diferentes categorias. Os pares foram agrupados por essas características e hipotetizou-se que esses grupos seguissem uma determinada ordem de dificuldade e que suas médias de dificuldade se diferenciassem significativamente. O teste foi aplicado coletivamente em 231 estudantes de uma universidade particular. Os resultados indicaram um bom ajuste dos itens em relação ao infit e outfit e um bom índice de precisão. A ordem de dificuldade esperada foi obtida empiricamente, mas não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as médias de todas as categorias dos itens. The aim of this study was to construct a recognition test, using the Rasch model, composed of 64 items to be recognized, 32 items for study and 32 distracters. The pairs of items comprised written words or figures, they were either modal or cross-modal; half of them belonged to the same semantic category and the other half to a variety of other categories. The pairs were grouped according to these features and it was predicted that they would follow a given order of difficulty and that their mean of difficulty would be significantly different. The test was collectively administered to 231 students from a private university. The outcomes indicated a very good item fit as regards infit and outfit and also a good index of precision. The expected orders of difficulty were obtained empirically, although the means of some groups of items were not significantly different.

The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) assesses motivation for treatment in the drug-dependent population. The development of adequate measures of motivation is needed in order to properly understand the role of this construct in rehabilitation. This study probed the psychometric properties of the SOCRATES in the Portuguese population by means of the Rasch Rating Scale Model, which allows the conjoint measurement of items and persons. The participants were 166 substance abusers under treatment for their addiction. Results show that the functioning of the five response categories is not optimal; our re-analysis indicates that a three-category system is the most appropriate one. By using this response category system, both model fit and estimation accuracy are improved. The discussion takes into account other factors such as item format and content in order to make suggestions for the development of better motivation-for-treatment scales.

Stereotype threat has been invoked to explain underperformance on a variety of groups for whom the stereotypes allege inferior cognitive abilities. In math testing, stereotype threat has been used to explain sex differences in test performance. This paper describes an experimental study on a large sample ( n = 313), in which the role of anxiety and mental rotation on math sex-related differences under stereotype threat has been analyzed in the tradition of Aptitude–Treatment–Interaction (ATI) designs. Results show that the manipulation effects are evident only in interaction with anxiety, which suggests that the construct validity of stereotype threat is itself seriously threatened. The analogy with the validity threat known as reactivity to the experimental situation is elaborated, and a more promising approach (the study of threat-related attentional bias in anxious and non-anxious individuals) suggested.

The hypothesis that there would be a consistently ordered sequence of basic emotion words in Spanish—a phenomenal claim—has been strongly corroborated on 103,184 emotion terms from a representative corpus of 188,975,000. The observed sequence of miedo, pena, sorpresa, alegria, rabia, desprecio and asco—linguistic exemplars of emotion “families” corresponding to fear, sadness, surprise, happiness, anger, contempt and disgust—is highly consistent diachronically (through current and modern Spanish), and synchronically (through various countries, among them—Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, USA and Venezuela). These results converge with evidence of emotion universals from cognitive psychology and neuroscience, as well as with predictions from functional approaches. By analogy with the colour-perception domain, it is proposed that this sequence be hypothesized as a ranking of psychological salience.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms, disgust vulnerability, and the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality.The sample consisted of 100 adult patients with OCD as a primary diagnosis and 246 with other anxiety disorders (OADs), who responded to OCD, disgust vulnerability, anxiety, depression and personality questionnaires. To perform parametric statistical calculations, all questionnaire scores were transformed from raw ordinal-scale scores to Rasch measures, with interval properties.OCD patients scored significantly higher than OAD patients on DPSS-R Disgust Sensitivity and DPSS-R Disgust Propensity, with a large effect size observed on Disgust Propensity. Furthermore, strong correlations were observed between DPSS-R Propensity to Disgust model scores and DOCS Contamination model scores. Finally, NEO FFI Conscientiousness trait was significantly higher in OCD patients.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram desenvolver uma versão computadorizada para um teste de reconhecimento associativo, desenvolver itens para a construção e informatização de um teste de reconhecimento de itens, utilizando o modelo de Rasch. Também foi objetivo deste estudo testar as hipóteses dos níveis de dificuldade dos itens e buscar evidência de validade para os instrumentos, averiguando se as mulheres obtêm desempenho superior ao dos homens. Participaram 217 estudantes universitários, homens e mulheres, com idade média de 25 anos. Os resultados indicaram que os testes se ajustaram ao modelo de Rasch, apresentaram índices de fidedignidade adequados e não apresentaram funcionamento diferencial dos itens (DIF). Obteve-se empiricamente a ordem esperada de dificuldade das categorias de itens do teste individual e uma alta correlação entre a ordem de dificuldade esperada dos pares e a ordem obtida dos pares. As mulheres apresentaram um desempenho significativamente superior ao dos homens, que não se deve ao DIF. The objectives of this study were to develop items for a computerized version of an associative recognition memory test and to develop items for the construction and computerization of an individual recognition memory test, using the Rasch model. This study also aimed to test the hypothesis related to the item difficulty levels and to search for validity evidences for the instruments investigating if there are differences between male and female performance. Two hundred and seventeen college students, male and female, with average age of 25 years, participated in the study. Results indicated that the tests fit the Rasch model, presented adequate reliability index and did not present differential item functioning (DIF). The expected difficulty order of item categories from the individual subtest as well as a large correlation between the pairs expected difficulty order and the pairs obtained order were found. Women presented significantly higher performance than men and it is not due to DIF.

The hypothesis that the Berlin and Kay (1969) colour sequence would be replicated in Spanish colour-word usage has been corroborated on 131,028 colour words from a representative corpus (N = 188,975,000). The observed sequence of white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, grey and brown is highly consistent diachronically (through current and contemporary Spanish), synchronically (through various countries) and with the expected order. Considering the divergence of Spanish vocabularies among geographical areas in the last centuries, the almost total agreement did not have a high prior probability under hypotheses of culturally arbitrary colour vocabularies. It is difficult to see how linguistic relativity could adequately account for such a robust result. The use of ordinal statistics and non-reactive measures to study cultural products constrained by epigenetic rules, such as colour vocabularies, is presented as an exercise of methodological consilience.

Sex-related differential studies on mathematical abilities have hardly taken into account the mediator role of the verbal factor, which contrasts with the interest shown in the mediator role of visuospatial aptitude. We predicted that if sex-related differences were found, mental rotation would mediate mathematical abilities typically favoring males (geometry and verbal problems) and lexical access would mediate the one favoring females (arithmetic). Data from 455 participants with a median age of 13 were analyzed, showing that sex-related effect sizes in mathematical criteria were small, ranging from d=−.16 to .18 (corrected by attenuation), as expected for unselected samples. Lexical access scores were consistent predictors for every mathematical subdomain, and mental rotation added to the prediction only for geometry and word problems.

In the last decade, working memory has been causally linked to higher intellectual abilities, with special emphasis on the role of central executive processes. The goal of the present study has been to investigate the relation between the visuo-spatial sketch-pad of working memory (Baddeley, 1986; Baddeley & Logie, 1999; Logie, 1995) and the Visualization (Vz) psychometric factor. We report two studies exploring a working memory paradigm designed to tap mechanisms of the visuo-spatial sketch-pad, as different from the phonological loop and central executive functioning. In Experiment 1, short term retention of a random polygon was affected by a visuo-spatial interference, but not by a verbal one. In Experiment 2 a double dissociation pattern was found: a verbal interference effect on a verbal memory task, and a visuo-spatial interference effect on a visuo-spatial task. Experiment 3 showed that visuo-spatial temporary retention mechanisms were significantly associated with performance in Vz tests.

This study examines the effects of item feedback on multiple-choice test responses. In the first experiment, a positive effect was predicted under instructions advising a penalty for errors; a larger beneficial effect on female scores was expected, given the (presumed) tendency of female participants toward omission when uncertain. Feedback effects were either negligible or negative, and the expected interaction effect with gender was not found. The second experiment was a high-powered replication of the feedback effect on errors, controlling for participants' ability. The discussion takes into account other evidence to state that recommendations of providing item feedback in the context of testing are neither theoretically nor empirically founded.

Introduction A high degree of self-efficacy is required from drug users if they are to adopt long-term abstinence-maintaining or harm-reducing behaviors. Our objective was to analyze the psychometric quality of the Harm Reduction Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (HRSEQ) with the Rating Scale Model (RSM), an extension of the Rasch Model for polytomous items. Methods Participants were 419 drug dependents from both harm reduction low threshold methadone program and therapeutic community programs in Portugal (84.5% male). Results Indicate that the original 11-category response system did not work adequately in any of the HRSEQ situations (Withdrawal, Negative emotions and Social pressure). There was no gender-related or group-related DIF and thus the findings of neither group nor gender-related difference in harm reduction self-efficacy cannot be plausibly attributed to that technical problem. Conclusions After recoding the rating scales by collapsing the eleven categories into four, the HRSEQ scores show good model fit and psychometric adequacy.

When both experts and lay people interpret data on sex-related differences, they usually forget that the instruments for data collection might be provoking such differences. This experiment, carried out on 240 participants, focused on the effects of four instruction/scoring conditions on sex effect size in two computerized tests — vocabulary and mental rotation, for which sex-related differences had been shown to be, respectively, small (favoring females) and large (favoring males). Given the caution which seems to characterize female performance, our general hypothesis predicted that, under instructions encouraging guessing, effect sizes favoring males would augment and effect sizes favoring females would diminish. The opposite results were expected under instructions discouraging guessing. Some supporting evidence was found.

Summary: Most standardized tests instruct subjects to guess under scoring procedures that do not correct for guessing or correct only for expected random guessing. Other scoring rules, such as offering a small reward for omissions or punishing errors by discounting more than expected from random guessing, have been proposed. This study was designed to test the effects of these four instruction/scoring conditions on performance indicators and on score reliability of multiple-choice tests. Some 240 participants were randomly assigned to four conditions differing in how much they discourage guessing. Subjects performed two psychometric computerized tests, which differed only in the instructions provided and the associated scoring procedure. For both tests, our hypotheses predicted (0) an increasing trend in omissions (showing that instructions were effective); (1) decreasing trends in wrong and right responses; (2) an increase in reliability estimates of both number right and scores. Predictions regarding performance indicators were mostly fulfilled, but expected differences in reliability failed to appear. The discussion of results takes into account not only psychometric issues related to guessing, but also the misleading educational implications of recommendations to guess in testing contexts.