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Abstract. The Greek version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), used to assess exhaustion and disengagement from work, was analyzed using item response theory analyses to investigate the dimensionality and the psychometric properties of the measure’s items. The OLBI was administered to 617 Greek employees, of whom 314 also participated in the validation study. The results indicated that four negatively keyed items from the original measure exhibited excellent psychometric properties (item/test information functions) and were used for the construction of a shorter version of the OLBI. The scr-OLBI, composed of the first letters of the word “screening,” was tested for differential item functioning between male and female employees; no bias was detected in relation to gender. Our results reveal that the scr-OLBI is a reliable and valid indicator of work-related burnout, which appears to be functionally equivalent to the original version both theoretically and empirically, yet exhibits the advantages of a short measure.

Industry and higher education are increasingly utilizing online environments due to digitalization. As a result, the learning experiences in these new digital learning ecosystems as communities must be re-examined critically. This study incorporates the second cycle of the design-based research (DBR) study developing the design principles and theoretical framework for a digital learning ecosystem in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) engineering education in Lapland University of Applied Sciences (UAS), Finland. This cycle examines students' learning experiences in a project and Industry 4.0-based approach in a digital learning ecosystem with authentic industry assignments and involvement. The study examines the learning experiences of ICT engineering students in a project and Industry 4.0-based approach in a digital environment with authentic industry assignments and involvement. The study was carried out using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) approach. Rasch Rating Scale Model was used to analyse first-, second-, and third-year students' responses to a translated and adapted CoI questionnaire. Open-ended questions were added to the questionnaire, which was then analysed using content analysis. The results indicate that students perceived project-based learning in an online setting positively. However, the findings point to issues with social interactions and the actual application of learnt knowledge and skills. Challenges in task management and scheduling, as well as receiving feedback, had a somewhat negative impact on the learning experience, particularly during the first year of study. Finally, this paper concludes by presenting a visual model summarizing the design framework developed through a broader DBR study informed by the previous DBR cycles. The findings may benefit practitioners in developing similar communities and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to explore the similarities and differences in the barriers and motivations between the plastic and resins and food and beverages industries as these two industries are the major contributors of solid waste in Malaysia. Prior studies are lacking with regard to explaining the barriers and motivations in solid waste management from the Malaysian context. This study is focused on 10 firms from the plastics and resins industry and 9 from the food and beverages industry in Malaysia. Through Rasch measurement theory, the results indicate that the barriers of lack of skills and qualifications and lack of closed-loop control and the motivations of cost savings and a business model are performed differently. The findings further confirm that the lack of skills and qualifications is a more difficult barrier to overcome than the lack of closed-loop control, while the motivation factor of a business model is more difficult to achieve than cost savings. In terms of practical contribution, this study provides results that can help policy makers in Malaysia to close the gaps present regarding the adoption of solid waste management practices and to devise appropriate incentives. The study also supports managers of companies in regard to working on the most pressing hindering and promoting factors in the field of solid waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employed the Rasch rating scale model to examine the measurement properties of a newly developed scale measuring parents' awareness and perspectives on school choice. A conceptual framework and an item matrix were utilized to incorporate theoretical considerations relevant to the items for the scale. A pilot study collected responses from 119 Kentucky parents with children enrolled in K-12 schools. Results from Rasch analysis found that the two subscales in the survey demonstrated good reliability and individual item fit and yielding an instrument suitable for future use. The resultant instrument has the response categories collapsed from 4 to 3 Likert-type points. This paper can serve as a guide to researchers using survey design for perceptions about school choice and help lend greater rigor to broader school choice survey research and instrument development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) is one of the most widely used measures of emotional and cognitive representations of illness. The B-IPQ has been translated and adapted into many languages. However, the scale has not been translated into Iraqi Arabic in patients with type II diabetes. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate psychometric properties of the B-IPQ among Iraqi patients with type II diabetes. Methods: In this quantitative study, the Arabic Version of the B-IPQ was given to 192 Iraqi patients with type II diabetes. The participants were randomly selected from 5 hospitals and a diabetes society in Baghdad, Iraq. The participants included individuals diagnosed at least 1 year before this research. Using WINSTEPS computer program, the Rating Scale Model (RSM) was employed as a polytomous extension of the Rasch model (RM) to evaluate the scale in terms of unidimensionality, local independence, item statistics, and rating structures. Results: The results indicated that the values of infit and oufit mean square (MNSQ) are within the ideal range of 0.60 and 1.40, suggesting that the items of the scale fit to the RM. The data was found to be unidimensional because the first factor explains 5.5% of the unexplained variance with an eigenvalue of 1.5 (< 2). The results also showed that items are locally independent, and both persons and items have high Rasch separation reliability indices. More importantly, the response options or categories of the scale work optimally because with the increase in category values, observed averages also increased. Conclusion: The overall findings showed that the Arabic version of the B-IPQ is a valid and reliable instrument and can be employed to assess illness perceptions among Iraqi patients with type II diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Perceived stress reflects a person’s feeling of how much stress the individual is under at a given time. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a popular instrument measuring the extent to which individuals perceive situations in their life as excessive relative to the ability to cope. Based on a literature review, however, several issues related to the scale remain: (a) the dimensionality is not established, (b) little information about the individual items exists, and (c) much research is based on university student samples. To address these, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS) using a military sample. Methods This study was conducted in South Korea with 373 military personnel, aged 19–30 years. Both classical test theory (CTT) and the Rasch rating scale model were used to examine the psychometric properties of the KPSS, including factor structure, concurrent validity, reliability, and item analyses. Results Internal consistency reliability for the overall and negative/positive perception subscales was.85, .85 and .86, respectively. Based on Rasch reliability, person and item reliability were .82 and .98, respectively. Person and item separation were 2.13 and 7.19, respectively. Concurrent validity was established, with significantly positive association with the measures of depression and negative association with the measure of life satisfaction. Findings from the CFA suggested that a bifactor model with two group factors was the best fit to the observed data. The RSM showed that all but one item had acceptable infit and outfit statistics, and item difficulty ranged from −.73 to 1.22. Besides, the RSM showed positive and moderate inter-item correlations ranging from .42 to .75. Conclusions The results provided evidence that a 10-item Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale was a reliable and valid scale to measure perceived stress in military samples.

This study subjected the Intercultural Sensitivity scale consisting of 24 items to Rasch analysis in a sample of 200 participants. The scale was translated into Persian and administered to graduate and undergraduate university students. Analysis of data showed that there were no misfitting items. Furthermore, no item manifested gender differential item functioning (DIF). All the thresholds were ordered and respondents could distinguish well between categories of the scale. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) of standardized residuals revealed that there were two contrasts with eigenvalues above two. Deleting positively and negatively loading items separately did not improve model fit. Thus, the content of items was investigated and it became clear that most of the positively loading items covered those items which have negative content and conversely, negatively loading items encompassed the items which have positive content. This brings about two psychometric dimensions in this scale. 1) Wording of the items revealed that the existence of items with negative wording in the scale results in statistical artifacts, and 2) The secondary dimension here could be interpreted to be an artifact of the wording. It was concluded that the scale is unidimensional and enjoys acceptable psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the Math Anxiety Scale (MANX; Erol 1989, Unpublished master thesis, Bogazici University) with data collected from 952 middle school students in Turkey. The Rasch Rating Scale model was used to examine the MANX at the item level. The results revealed that although the MANX was sensitive to detect students with moderate levels of math anxiety and it was not targeted to identify those with very high and low math anxiety levels, it had high reliability and validity. Moreover, the majority of the MANX items were of good quality. The results of this study provide strong evidence for the validation of the MANX despite the need for deletion of eight misfit items and three items with the same item difficulties. Future research should consider possible revision or development of new items to capture gradations of challenges at the very high and low ends of the continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous research had shown the suitability of several questionnaires predicting the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Measurement properties of an online screening questionnaire were studied. Methods: The sample consisted of 184 Portuguese adults (89 men and 95 women); 46 of them were polysomnographically diagnosed with the untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The participants were assessed with an online questionnaire of sleep apnea risk, from University of Maryland. Results: A principal component factor analysis was performed, revealing a single factor (49.24% of the total variance). Internal consistency was minimally adequate (α=0.74). The mean of inter-item correlation was of 0.35 (0.120.61), whereas the item-total correlations were considered good (0.520.81). The total score for patients was significantly higher than for healthy participants (p0.05). Furthermore, the ability of the measure in discriminating between healthy subjects and OSA subjects was good. Overall data from the Rasch analysis was consistent with the guidelines of Linacre, scores show good model fit and psychometric adequacy. Conclusions: The measure showed an adequate structural, internal and criterion validity, suggesting this as a useful and effective screening for sleep apnea risk in Portuguese adults.

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.

Underlying the recently developed notions of applied ELT and life syllabus is the idea that language classes should give precedence to learners’ life qualities, for instance emotional intelligence (EI), over and above their language skills. By so doing, ELT is ascribed an autonomous status and ELT classes can lavish their full potentials to the learners. With that in mind, this study aimed to design and validate a scale for appraising the current English language learning textbooks with respect to EI competencies. Having used several psychological models of EI, the authors developed a 44-item scale. The scale was then disseminated to in-service EFL teachers at non-profit language institutes in Iran. Rasch rating scale model was utilized to substantiate the construct validity of the scale. Three items, two representing impulse control and one pertaining to adaptability, misfitted the model, requiring to be pruned. The results also showed that the 6-point Likert scale functioned effectively. The scale is therefore a unidimensional and valid instrument with considerable implications for language teachers, syllabus designers, and materials developers.

Inclusive teaching tasks have consistently been found challenging for teachers, but it is unclear how they are ranked in terms of the extent of self-efficacy required. This study aimed at deriving such a hierarchy. A survey was conducted on 107 primary school teachers in Hong Kong using the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practices scale. A Rasch rating scale model was applied to empirically examine the hierarchical structure. Good person reliability (0.89) and model fit (MNSQ 0.6–1.4) were achieved. Managing physical aggression was found at the top of the hierarchy; this and other results could facilitate the identification of training needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 fi t, 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research suggests that it is the department, not the graduate school that bears the greatest responsibility for doctoral students' progress and success (Ehrenberg et al., Doctoral education and the faculty of the future (pp. 15-34). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2009) dictating the need to examine and understand how doctoral students experience their education at the department level. In the present study, we analyzed the NAGPS' 2000 National Doctoral Program Survey (NDPS) data in an effort to understand the differences in the satisfaction levels of doctoral students (current, recent graduates, and former) across various academic disciplines (e.g. social sciences, humanities, engineering) and different institutional types (e.g. research extensive and research intensive). Employing both traditional (ANOVA) and item-level (Rasch Rating Scale Model) analyses we found that although overall satisfaction with doctoral experiences appears to be equivalent/similar across multiple disciplines, student satisfaction within disciplines varied significantly and consistently with respect to specific academic experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared 3 different methods of creating cut scores for a screening instrument, T scores, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and the Rasch rating scale method (RSM), for use with the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) Teacher Rating Scale for Children and Adolescents (Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2007). Using the BESS norm data set, we compared the methods across 7 classification indices. Additional information about accuracy was used with a subset of children who had been given a prior diagnosis for selected disorders. The results showed that the methods were generally in concordance, with similarities identified across methods. RSM and ROC analysis methods performed similarly, with both methods identifying the same optimal cut-point. The method based on T scores appeared to be more conservative, identifying a lower cut score as optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the 38-item Perceived Benefits Scale (PBS) by examining whether the items constructed a single latent trait and formed an interval scale. This would justify its use to measure the advantages of benefit-finding brought to patients with different cancers from participation in community-based cancer support groups. Methods: A total of 300 patients were randomly recruited from a 1300-bed medical centre in Taiwan. The Rasch rating scale model was used to examine the model-data fit. Differential item functioning (DIF) analysis was conducted to verify construct equivalence across groups. Comparisons were made among demographic characteristics for various types of patient support groups. Results: Of the 38 items on the PBS, 28 were applicable to cancer patients and were divided into two distinct unidimensional domains; both met the Rasch model's expectation to constitute a single construct. DIF was found between types of cancers patients, but not between genders. Positive changes following adversity were statistically significantly associated with and ascribed to the duration of patient attendance in community-based cancer support groups. Conclusion: The two domains verified by Rasch analysis can be used through Rasch-transformed measures to make further statistical inference when comparing positive changes following adversity within and between cancer groups. The psychometric properties of the PBS verified by Rasch modeling fit to the unidimensionality, but need a huge sample size to support its validity and reliability in future studies. Nonetheless, we should be cautious to make comparisons among types of cancer patients due to DIF exhibited in scale. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Teacher Rating System for Children and Adolescents (BESS TRS-CA; Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2007) screener using Rasch Rating Scale model (RSM) methodology to provide additional information about psychometric properties of items. Data from the Behavioral Assessment System for Children Teacher Rating Scale for Children (BASC TRS-C) norm sample (Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004) was used. Using RSM, we investigated the structure of the screener, the teachers' levels of endorsement of behaviors, and the performance of the rating scale to measure the latent construct of "maladaptive behavior." The results showed that the majority of items were within acceptable bounds for fit, illustrating appropriate model-data fit. The 4-point rating scale worked well for ratings, allowing for differentiation of children's behavior. Screener items showed varying levels of endorsement, with items measuring internalizing behaviors posing the most difficulty for teachers. The manuscript provides an illustration of how RSM may be used to provide additional psychometric information. Implications for using Rasch methods for scale development and evaluation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parametric statistical methods are typically used for analyzing test scores, even though they are ordinal at best. The Meyers and Meyers' Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure four-category scoring system has been evaluated with the Rasch Rating Scale Model, and disordered thresholds have been found. However, Rasch-modeling dichotomized data led to good fit for both normal (n = 219) and Traumatic Brain Injury (n = 54) samples and generalized validity for these groups, as well as for male and female groups. The logarithmic transformation of the item and person data performed by the model converts the ordinal data to yield interval scaled data. This is desirable not only from a scientific perspective, but also from the point of view of interpretability and communicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Occupational Self Assessment (OSA) was designed to guide collaborative treatment planning and measure client-reported change to document therapy outcomes. This study examined the stability of the OSA and its ability to detect changes in reported Competence and Values. The OSA was administered twice to 112 participants with disabilities 58 to 650 days apart. A Rasch rating scale model was used to analyze the data and determine the stability. Competence and Values items were stable over time. The Competence rating scale was used by participants in the same manner at both administrations. However, the Values rating scale was used differently at time 2; participants were less likely to use the Values rating scale category "More important" at time 2. Thirty-two percent and 49% of participants had significantly different measures at time 2 on Competence and Values scales, respectively. This study lends support for the use of the OSA as a client-reported outcome measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]