Measure Of Courage Research Articles

Courage Measure (CM) – Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties for Brazilian Adolescents

Abstract: The objective of the study was to adapt the Courage Scale and estimate validity evidence based on content and internal structure. The study included 510 young people, between 14 and 19 years old. The results of the content validity coefficient suggested the adequacy of the content. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test three factor models, namely one-factor, two-factor, and the random intercept model. The results indicated that it is possible to measure courage through a factor, when the acquiescent response style is controlled, corroborating the theoretical perspective, given that the random intercept model adjusted well to the sample data. In other words, the findings indicate that the scale is capable of measuring courage in the Brazilian context and that acquiescence control is an important method in evaluating the construct.

Facing Fear with Courage: Psychometric and Behavioral Evidence of the Courage Measure (CM) in Poland

The Courage Measure (CM), developed by Norton and Weiss (2009) has proved to be a significant predictor of a behavioral approach in a fear-eliciting situation. The current research project aimed to replicate this result, using a shortened version of the scale, whose psychometric superiority over the full version has been supported by previous studies. For this purpose, in Study 1 the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the CM (CM-PL) were analyzed; the results supported its unidimensional structure and measurement invariance across gender groups, as well as good internal consistency. Study 1 also provided preliminary evidence of the convergent, concurrent and divergent validity of CM-PL, showing its relation to resilience, grit, risk-taking and the Big Five personality traits. In Study 2, 31 participants with an elevated fear of spiders completed a behavioral approach test in which they moved ever closer to a display of taxidermied spiders. The results showed that the CM-PL significantly moderated the relationship between anxiety/distress and the behavioral approach, confirming its relation to real behavior. Overall, the results confirmed that CM-PL is a valuable measure that can be useful in scientific research and psychological practice (i.e., counseling and psychotherapy).

日本語版勇気尺度の作成

The purpose of this study is to translate the Courage Measure (CM) into Japanese and to examine the validity of the Japanese version of the CM (CM-J). Study 1 (N = 1,000) showed that the CM-J has a one-factor structure similar to previous studies and that it has sufficient measurement accuracy and good reliability based on item response theory. Study 2 (N = 366) confirmed the convergent and criterion-related validity of the CM-J in relation to optimism, pessimism, subjective well-being, Big Five personality traits, and the behavioral indicator. Study 3 (N = 200) confirmed the convergent validity of the CM-J in relation to resilience, bravery, authenticity, and grit. The CM-J is useful to the research of individual differences in courage and, in the future, for screening the clients who potentially drop out in exposure therapy.

The Validity of Virtual Courage for Trainees in High-Risk Occupations.

BackgroundEmployees in high-risk occupations are exposed to tremendous work stress that hinders organizational effectiveness and personal mental health. Based on positive psychology, courage can be considered a protective factor that buffers the adverse effect of high-risk surroundings on employees. However, little is known about the way courage is simulated or evaluated in response to safety concerns. Virtual reality (VR) is an accessible tool for courage simulation due to its immersive qualities, presence and interactive features and may provide a promising pathway to achieve a scientific, accurate and ecologically valid evaluation of high-risk employees.MethodsThe sample consisted of 51 high-risk employees who were recruited voluntarily. Before and after experiencing the VR courage scenarios, the participants completed the VR features questionnaire, the Physical Courage at Work Scale (PCWS), the Courage Measure (CM), and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). During the process of watching the VR courage scenarios, the participants’ heart rate and skin conductance at resting-state baseline and during virtual courage scenarios were recorded through HTC VIVE Pro Eye and BioGraph Infiniti 8.ResultsThe results support the hypothesis and reveal that the interaction, immersion and presence scores of the scenarios were all significantly higher than the median 4 points. The score for the CM in the posttest was significantly higher than that in the pretest. The scared and afraid scores for the posttest were significantly higher than those for the pretest. The heart rate and skin conductance of each scenario showed an increase compared with the baseline. The Pearson’s correlation between physiological indicators and the score of the PCWS was 0.28~0.54.ConclusionThis study developed virtual courage for high-risk occupations based on well-established theory and VR technology. Experimental data revealed that the paradigm conformed to the requirements of VR features and was able to activate fear and evoke the quality of courage. Thus, the virtual courage paradigms have good validity in simulating scenarios for high-risk employees, which might accelerate organizational effectiveness while buffering working stress.

Does the courage measure really measure courage? A theoretical and empirical evaluation

Courage has seen an explosion of research in all branches of psychology, and the most popular measure is Norton and Weiss’s the courage measure (CM). Despite widespread use, limited investigations into its psychometric properties and validity have been performed. To ensure the strength of findings drawn from the scale, the current study performs a theoretical, psychometric, and empirical analysis of the CM. The results demonstrate that the CM has theoretical concerns stemming from the operational definition of courage used during its creation, and may not actually measure courage. Also, the CM was shown to consist of two dimensions separated by regular and reverse coding. Next, the scale demonstrated slight concerns with method effects, and its construct validity was analyzed. Together, the results demonstrate that the CM would benefit from the removal of reverse coded items, and may actually gage persistence despite fear rather than courage.