Internal Consistency of a Foot and Eye Dominance Scale in Male Subjects

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the reliability (internal consistency) of a Combined Foot and Eye Dominance Scale in men - schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects. Material and Methods: We used a Combined Foot and Eye Dominance Scale to assess a sample of 86 men - schizophrenia patients (mean age 44.51 years (SD = 10.73, range 23- 67) and healthy subjects (Mean age 34.70 years (SD = 16.82, range 18-79). The scale consisted of two subscales: Foot Dominance Subscale and Eye Dominance Subscale. Scale reliability statistics, non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used. Results: Considerable differences were found in the contribution of the single items to the Combined Scale. Some items show greater means (0, 14 - 0, 80), suggesting greater phenogenetic component and greater contribution to the total scale mean. The mean correlation between the items is positive (0, 30), indicating good internal consistency of the scale. Conclusions: There is strong consistence and coherence between the two component subscales as well as between the individual dominance tests of the scale in the male population. The Combined Scale strongly and objectively reflects leftedness and provides an easier and more accessible way for researching laterality in men.