Individual Factor Scores Research Articles

What does the BDI measure in chronic pain?

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) has been widely used to document the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in samples of chronic pain patients and as an outcome measure in studies of the psychological management of chronic pain. Several BDI items have a somatic content (sleep disturbance, fatigue, etc). Since chronic pain may have similar somatic effects, the significance of the total BDI score in this population is unclear. Two hundred and forty mixed chronic pain patients completed the BDI at screening interview for a psychologically based pain management programme; of these, 207 (mean age 50.1 years; 63% female) were later admitted to the programme when the BDI was readministered along with measures of pain, anxiety, pain-related cognitions, and physical performance. The mean BDI score of the sample was 18.1, with 71.7% meeting criteria (scoring 13 or more) for at least mild depression. A principal-components analysis of the BDI yielded 3 meaningful factors labelled: sadness about health, self-reproach, and somatic disturbance. Among the most frequently endorsed items were those loading on the somatic factor. The pattern of relationships between individual factor scores and measures of pain, mood, cognition, and physical functioning indicated that the use of the total BDI score may give a misleading impression of the nature and degree of affective disturbance in this group of patients. The implications of these findings for our understanding of BDI scores obtained by chronic pain patients are discussed.

Estimation of Individual Factor Scores Based on Entrance Examination Data

Estimation of Individual Factor Scores Based on Entrance Examination Data

The Play Activity Questionnaire: A parent report measure of children's play preferences

Three studies describe the development and validation of the Play Activity Questionnaire (PQ), a parent report measure of children's play preferences. In Study 1, the 15-item PQ was completed by parents of 239 6- to 8-year-old children, and exploratory factor analysis revealed four play factors: Active and Adventurous, Athletic, Rough-and-Tumble, and Quiet. In Study 2, the factor structure was replicated with PQ data on 203 children of a broader age range (4 to 12 years). The play factors accounted for 65.7% of the variance. Boys' scores exceeded girls' scores on the Athletic and Rough-and-Tumble play factors. Girls' scores exceeded boys' scores on the Quiet play factor. Sex differences were not observed on the Active and Adventurous play factor. Interparent agreement was moderately high, and PQ factor scores were unrelated to social class or nationality. Individual factor scores showed moderate to high stability over 5 months. Validity of the play factors was examined in Study 3 by relating factor scores to measures of activity level, aggression, and sex-typed play. Play factor scores were associated with several of these measures, suggesting that the PQ is a valid measure of children's play behavior with potential applications in the fields of developmental psychopathology and psychoneuroendocrinology, and in studies of normal play and sex-role development.

Anthropometric-hormonal correlation patterns in San and Kavango males from Namibia

Correlations between sex hormone levels and body dimensions--so far investigated only in Caucasian populations--were analysed using data from 114 !Kung San hunter-gatherers and 137 urban and rural Kavango men from Namibia. The androgens testosterone (Tser) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the serum and free testosterone in the saliva (Tsal) as well as oestradiol (E2) in the serum were determined by the radioimmunoassay method. The body dimensions were described by 50 anthropometric features which were additionally subjected to factor analysis yielding seven factors. Most of the individual measurements as well as the resulting factor scores correlated significantly with the sex hormone variables and the hormone ratios Tser/DHT, Tsal/Tser, and Tser/E2 in the !Kung San and the two Kavango samples. For an extended comparison pertinent data from a German sample were included in the analysis. This made it possible to test the stability of metric hormonal correlations in different populations living under various ecological and economical conditions. While the breadth measurements in all samples show relatively consistent correlations to both absolute hormones and hormone ratios, the correlations to the other body measurements and individual factor scores turn out to be less stable. Here, the effect of sex hormones on physical growth, which is experimentally well documented, is obviously differentially covered by genetic and environmental factors specific for the groups in question.

Associations Between Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in American Children

Associations between two measures of physical fitness, 1.6-km run/walk performance and sum of three skinfold thicknesses, and selected physical activity factors were studied in a nationally representative sample of third- and fourth-grade students (1150 boys, 1202 girls). Twenty physical activity variables measured via parent and teacher questionnaires were factor analyzed, and for each of the resultant eight factors, individual factor scores were generated. These were used in two multiple regression analyses in which 1.6-km run/walk time and sum of skinfold measurements were the dependent variables. Multiple R2 for these two analyses were .21 and .18. Significant factors in both analyses were global ratings of the child's activity level, age, vigorous community activities, and gender. The results indicate that physical activity and physical fitness are significantly, although moderately, associated in young children and suggest that interventions directed toward enhancement of physical activity in children are worthy of investigation.

Estimation of individual genetic and environmental factor scores

Implicit in the application of the common-factor model as a method for decomposing trait covariance into a genetic and environmental part is the use of factor scores. In multivariate analyses, it is possible to estimate these factor scores for the communal part of the model. Estimation of scores on latent factors in terms of individual observations within the context of a twin/family study amounts to estimation of individual genetic and environmental scores. Such estimates may be of both theoretical and practical interest and may be provided with confidence intervals around the individual estimates. The method is first illustrated with stimulated twin data and next is applied to blood pressure data obtained in a Dutch sample of 59 male adolescent twin pairs. Subjects with high blood pressure can be distinguished into groups with high genetic or high environmental scores.

Using factor scores to detect G × E Interactive Origin of “pure” genetic or environmental factors obtained in genetic covariance structure analysis

Moment expressions for individual factor scores can serve as simple tests for the presence of a particular class of interaction factors that are disguised as pure genetic and/or environmental factors. That is, individual genetic and environmental factor scores may be used to construct fourth-order moments of these factors in order to test whether a common genetic or environmental factor in the multivariate genetic factor model is in fact of the interactive origin concerned. Expected fourth-order moments are derived for cases with and without interaction. Application of fourth-order moments of factor scores to detect interactive origin of common factors is illustrated with simulated twin data.

Stability of plasma catecholamine metabolites in outpatient schizophrenics

for tardive dyskinesia vulnerability, we conducted a post hoc analysis of plasma AA levels and BPRS symptoms. Subjects were 53 randomly selected young male chronic schizophrenic inpatients having three to 20 years of neuroleptic treatment. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between LNAA levels and ratios as compared to BPRS individual item scores and BPRS factor scores. Most of the LNAAs were found to have significant positive correlations with psychotic symptoms. TYR had only positive correlations with depression and anxiety. The branched chain amino acids (valine, isoleucine, and leucine) also showed positive correlations with depressive symptoms. Though PHE, TYR, and TRP have been the primary focus of this line of research, fasting HIS (a precursor of histamine which is a probable neurotransmitter) was found to have significant negative correlations with the following BPRS items: mannerisms, conceptual disorganization, grandiosity, unusual thought content, disorientation, total BPRS score; and the factors of thought disorder, activation, and hostility/suspiciousness. A positive correlation was found for blunted affect. Postloading levels, however, did not show any significant associations. These preliminary findings suggest that future research in the AAs and mental illness should include a broader range of AAs such as HIS and their relationships to symptomatology .

Relations between anthropometric characteristics and androgen hormone levels in healthy young men.

Inter-individual correlations between androgen hormone levels and anthropometric features were computed using data from a sample of 110 healthy young men. Radioimmunoassays were used to determine the total testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the serum and the free testosterone in the saliva. The 58 body measures encompassed the head, trunk and extremities in terms of their length, breadth and circumference. In addition, skin-fold thicknesses were also measured. This set of features was also subjected to factor analysis; the correlations of the resulting individual factor scores with the body measurements were also determined. The total testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were found to have a number of significant correlations with the various body measures and factors, while the free testosterone did not yield any significant findings. These correlations indicate in particular that there is a relation between the serum androgens and leptomorphism (especially negative correlations to indicators of the fat development), whereas a connection between the serum androgens and masculinity is only hinted at.

Criterion-related validity data for the child behavior checklist—Teacher's report form

Criterion-related validity data for the Child Behavior Checklist—Teacher's Report Form are presented. These data were collected from a sample of elementary school boys. A total behavior problem score and individual factor scores were calculated from the checklist data and were related to indices of academic achievement and overall adjustment in the classroom. Significant correlations were established between the two sets of scores. The results were interpreted as supporting the criterion-related validity of the teacher-judgment measure and its use as a screening or diagnostic device in the school.

Women's Motivations For Participation In Arts/Design Programs: Differences and Effects

Adult learners' motivations for participating in continuing education programs vary from job‐related reasons to social and general learning goals (Houle 1961; Scheffield 1964; Boshier 1971, 1977, 1978). Knowledge about how motivational orientations differ with specific user groups and content areas and how motiva tions might affect learning outcomes is essential for those interested in planning educational programs. This study adapted and tested a participation inventory instrument in six art and design programs for women (N = 85). Ratings were used to construct individual factor scores providing a weighted profile and dis tribution of women's motivations. Pre‐ and postmeasures of creative attitude and problem‐solving were used to compare learning among the motivational orientations. Results exhibit continuity with existing motivational theory and give empirical support to a motivational continuum construct. Women's reasons for participating in art and design programs were content‐specific, social, personal‐ need activity, general learning‐curiosity, and a composite of the four. A signif icant difference was found among the five orientations when measured for change in creative attitude. Condescriptive analysis showed women with general learning‐curiosity and composite orientations scored highest. No significant dif ference was observed when compared on problem‐solving measures.

AN ATTITUDE STUDY OF STUDENTS IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, A STATE UNIVERSITY, AND A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

The purpose of this study in college student culture was to determine whether students entering different types of postsecondary institutions have value systems and/or personality characteristics which differ according to the type of institution they select An assessment of the attitudes and traits students bring with them to college was made at a comprehensive state university, a technical institute, and a community college. The 16 Personality Factors Test of the Institute for Personality and Ability Testing (16 PF of the IPAT) was administered to 269 students in selected freshman level mathematics classes at the three schools. Individual factor scores were used to compute group means for each type of school on the 16 personality factors. The t test applied to differences in group means revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among groups on several factors. The results support the hypothesis that student personality factors are related to the type of college selected. If further research as recommen...

Six clinical features of schizophrenia.

The Schizophrenia State Inventory (SSI), developed to assess major dimensions of schizophrenia, has in the past revealed significantly greater dysfunctioning for schizophrenics as a group vs. nonschizophrenics along six of seven areas of clinical pathology: a) language; b) dysphoria; c) integration of self; d) thinking; e) general affect; and f) perception. The present investigation replicates and extends the original findings on a new sample of 119 patients, and combines both samples for a factor analysis, further elaborating the meaningfulness of the SSI. The original findings were replicated on the new, independent sample of 119 patients. On the scales of Language, Self-Integration, Thinking and Perception, means for the schizophrenic group were at least one full scale point greater than for the nonschizophrenic group. Mean differences for the scales of Dysphoria and Affect were also statistically significant. A factor analysis on a combined sample of 224 patients was conducted on 37 major variables derived from the research interview. This analysis revealed a first major factor, labeled clinical psychosis, comprised of variables suggesting that it indexed important clinical features of both psychosis and severe acute psychopathology. Additional support for the interpretation of the factor as one of clinical psychosis was found when further analysis was conducted in which each individual subject's factor scores were computed and a t-test contrasted the schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic groups. The difference between the two groups was significant (p < .001). Scores from the three other major factors related to aspects of premorbid functioning and other clinical features did not discriminate between these two groups. The clinical relevance of these results is explored with special emphasis given to the SSI as a particularly meaningful way of understanding the clinical experiences of young schizophrenic patients during phases of acute psychopathology.

Reliabilities of Schaefer's Classroom Behavior Inventory

The Classroom Behavior Inventory was developed to assess three bipolar dimensions of child behavior: I. Task-oriented Behavior vs Distractibility, 11. Hostility vs Considerateness, and 111. Extroversion vs Introversion.' Teachers can complete the 18 items of the inventory in approximately 2 or 3 min. for a child with whom they have worked. Factoranalytic studies have verified the a priori three-dimensional bipolar design (2) .' Schaeffer's (3; personal communication 1973)= a prio~i designed structure has been documented in another version of the inventory (1). This study examined three types of reliability plus an examination of the relationship between factor scores and raw scores. In a suburban open-concept school two teachers with similar background and experience rated their first and second grade children on the inventory. During the first week of May, Teacher X rated 71 cases and Teacher Y independently rated 59 cases, including 43 shared cases. Five weeks later these reachers repeated their ratings. Each of the four sets of scores was submitted to a principal axis factor analysis with a varimax rotation on three factors and factor scores were generated. Factor structure of these data was very similar to those previously reported (2) .' Inter-rater reliability for individual factors ranged from .>2 to .G9 for factor scores and .58 to .79 for algebraically summed raw scores. Stability coefficients based on alge- . braically summed raw scores for individual factors ranged from .73 to .88 for Teacher X and .65 to .72 for Teacher Y. Internal consistency through use of Cronhch's coefficient alpha for individual factors ranged from .84 to .95 for Teacher X and .71 to .90 for Teacher Y. Correlations between factors scores and algebraically summed raw scores ranged from .88 to .99 for these two teachers over both ratings. Boch factor structure and reliability are satisfactory for an instrument a reacher can complete in 2 or 3 min. Raw scores can be used in place of factor scores, freeing additional time and money. Because of its economy, the inventory holds promise as an initial screening device for identifying exceptional children. In addition instruments with a known factor structure derived from theoretical considerations can be helpful in extending theory. Based on available information, criterion-related validity studies and normative data should be

筋力の構造の因子分析的モデル批判

The most clearly defined area in the factor analysis literatures on motor fitness was the area of strength. When the interrelations among tests of strength were factored, three broad factors emerged repeatedly. These factors are Explosive Strength, Dynamic Strength, and Static Strength. These were proved to be independent or only slightly correlated factors by statistical treatments, factor analysis. But it may be questioned if these factors really have no relation when we consider them from the standpoints of physiological and dynamical disciplines. As the results of Component Analysis of six strength tests and height and weight and individual factor scores, it was assumed that the independence was deceptive caused by an artifact, which was different weight they carried on the power tests.

Relation of Preference Panel and Trained Panel Scores on Dry Whole Milk

Summary Dry whole milk samples manufactured by the EURDD Dairy Products Laboratory, Washington, D. C., were scored by an Oregon State University trained panel, EURDD Dairy Products Laboratory, Washington, D. C., trained panel, EURDD Engineering and Development Laboratory, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, trained panel, and by an OSU preference panel of from 100 to 160 student judges. After preliminary testing of 63 samples by the DPL and OSU panels, two series of 50 samples each for a total of 100 samples were tested by all four panels, except the Wyndmoor panel, which tested only 96 samples. Two of the three trained panels used modifications of the American Dairy Science Association score-card for dry whole milk. The Oregon trained panel used a simple six-factor ballot. The student preference panel scored the samples on the nine-point hedonic scale. All data were statistically analyzed for correlation and regression coefficients. Results indicated that total scores from the trained panels could be used as a basis for a scoring system which would predict consumer preference scores. The trained panels’ scores for individual scoring factors, i.e., cooked, oxidized, stale, astringent flavors, did not satisfactorily predict preference scores, but could be used as an indication of possible flavor defects in dry whole milk samples.