Reliability and Technical Meaning of Personality Questionnaire Scales.

Raymond B. Cattell

doi:10.1037/h0038734

Testing the Assumption of Uncorrelated Errors for Short Scales by Means of Structural Equation Modeling

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000135 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 201-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

André Beauducel ◽

Anja Leue

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation Modeling ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Error Score ◽

Classical Test Theory ◽

Test Theory ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ◽

Personality Questionnaire ◽

True Score

It is shown that a minimal assumption should be added to the assumptions of Classical Test Theory (CTT) in order to have positive inter-item correlations, which are regarded as a basis for the aggregation of items. Moreover, it is shown that the assumption of zero correlations between the error score estimates is substantially violated in the population of individuals when the number of items is small. Instead, a negative correlation between error score estimates occurs. The reason for the negative correlation is that the error score estimates for different items of a scale are based on insufficient true score estimates when the number of items is small. A test of the assumption of uncorrelated error score estimates by means of structural equation modeling (SEM) is proposed that takes this effect into account. The SEM-based procedure is demonstrated by means of empirical examples based on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised.

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Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000201 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 31-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paolo Iliceto ◽

Emanuele Fino

Keyword(s):

Second Order ◽

Personality Questionnaire ◽

Factor Analyses ◽

Factor Solution ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Beck Hopelessness Scale ◽

Order Factor ◽

Model Invariance ◽

Three Factor

The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) is an instrument for assessing cognitive thoughts among suicidal persons. Previous studies have identified different factor structures of the BHS. However, results were not conclusive. The aim of this study was to test the factor structure of the BHS in a sample of Italian individuals (N = 509) from the community, and secondarily to investigate correlations between the BHS, depression (Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition), and personality traits (Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire). Following recommendations of previous investigations, we utilized a 5-point response format. We applied a second-order Confirmatory Factor Analyses and tested for the model invariance. The results suggest that besides a single second-order factor, a second-order three-factor solution is also reasonable, in line with Beck’s theorization.

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