Psychometric Indices Research Articles

Grammatical Redundancy in Scales: Using the “ConGRe” Process to Create Better Measures

As theoretical models become more complex, there is more pressure to use less time-consuming methods generally, and shorter scales specifically. Although reliability is related to scale length, reliability cutoffs are easily met, even in very short scales, by writing or selecting items that are worded in nearly identical ways, that is, grammatical redundancy. However, grammatical redundancy increases reliability at the cost of domain sampling—a crucial early step in scale construction and one of the two pillars of content validity. Without it, a scale cannot capture the intended construct. The purpose of this paper is to provide scale developers (and shorteners) with a process for quantifying, identifying, and reducing grammatical redundancy without compromising conceptual redundancy, a process that we label ConGRe. Our process involves indices from the linguistics literature that can be used to guide decisions during item writing, that is, prior to data collection. We examine their relation to more traditional psychometric indicators and provide a set of benchmarks. Overall, we demonstrate that it is possible to reduce grammatical redundancy, thus avoiding scale deficiency, without sacrificing traditional psychometric properties.

Validation of the scale compassion fatigue inventory in health professional Spanish-speaking: a cross-sectional study.

To validate the Compassion Fatigue Inventory in Spanish-speaking health personnel, its psychometric properties were tested, and the influencing factors were investigated. This was a cross-sectional validation study. Information was collected through a survey of 733 nurses, physician and medical residents using the Compassion fatigue Inventory (CFI), Secondary Traumatic Stress Questionnaire (CETS), The physician burnout syndrome scale (PhBS), the quality-of-life index (SQL -sp) and the reduced Moral Stress Scale (MMDHPr). The psychometric properties of the CFI were tested via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency analysis. The final version of the translated CFI was correlated with other scales. An EFA was performed to evaluate the translated CFI, resulting in 15 items in three dimensions, as reported in the literature: reduced compassion, social life, and workplace. The CFA showed good fit indices and psychometric values (Cronbach´s alpha = 0.87, Omega = 0.87, Comparative Fit Index = 0.99, Tucker Lewis = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation = 0.045, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.05). The CFI had a negative correlation with the SQL-sp and a positive correlation with the other subscales. Work experience is predictive of a small reduction in CFI scores. The adaptation of the CFI in a sample of Latino health professionals shows satisfactory psychometric indices in the evaluation of compassion fatigue and can be proposed as a specific inventory to differentiate compassion fatigue from other occupational syndromes.

Adaptation and Validation of the Moral Distress Scale-Healthcare Professionals in Latvia

Moral distress occurs when an individual recognizes the ethically appropriate action in a given situation but is prevented from acting on it due to external factors. The MMD-HP represents a major update to the previously revised Moral Distress Scale (MDS-R). This tool was designed and refined to measure the extent of moral distress experienced by healthcare professionals when encountering ethical challenges. The adaptation and validation process was conducted in four phases, employing various psychometric measures to ensure the scale's consistency with the original study. Psychometric indicators used include Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson correlation, and confirmatory factor analysis, among others. The MMD-HP total score ranged from 4 to 207, with a mean score of 95.3 (SD 53.8) for n=12, 79 19 (SD 46.4) for n=48, and 115.7 (SD 75.1) for n=201. The overall Cronbach's alpha in each phase of our study ranged from 0.907 to 0.965 The Chi-square of the scale was 315.49 and χ²/df = 0.9. The CFI was 0.934, TLI 0.913, and NFI was 0.891. The RMSEA was 0.059 and SRMR 0.08. We determined that the Latvian version of the MMD-HP is valid and reliable for assessing moral distress among nurses in Latvia.

Development and psychometric assessment of the test “Predictive style”

BACKGROUND: Prognostic processes are an important link in adaptation to stressful events and resilience. The role of the features of prognostic abilities in various mental disorders is shown. We introduce and substantiate a new psychological construct, the “Predictive style”, reflecting the subjective importance of the forecasting process and the tendency to assess the favorability of predicted events. AIM: To develop and conduct a psychometric assessment of the “Predictive style” test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A “Predictive style” test was developed, including 21 statements divided into 4 scales: excessive optimism, excessive pessimism, excessive forecasting and indifference to forecasts. The development of the test included the study of the external and internal validity, as well as the reliability of the methodology. RESULTS: The measures of compliance with the test model were at a sufficient level: CFI=0.927; TLI=0.917; SRMR=0.0538; RMSEA=0.0497 (95% CI 0.0403–0.0589) and were performed on a new sample. All items correlated with their scales at a sufficient level. The reliability of the scales was in an acceptable range: Kronbach α=0.851–0.630. Retest reliability was confirmed after 2 months. Convergent validity was demonstrated by correlations with levels of optimism, pessimism, anticipation, predictive ability and coping strategies. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups of patients with neurotic mental disorders and those without psychopathology. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that the test scales were statistically significant predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms in the study participants. The results obtained confirm the criteria validity of the test under development. CONCLUSION: The developed test has sufficient psychometric indicators and can be used in subsequent studies.

Методика «Ответственность у подростков»: разработка и описание

<p>The article presents the results of the development and standardization of the author’s methodology “Responsibility in Adolescents”, aimed at studying the basic mechanisms of responsibility and the areas of its implementation in the everyday life of older adolescents aged 16-19 years. The study was carried out on a sample of 240 schoolchildren in grades 10-11 and college students 1-2 years old. The methodology includes 27 statements. Its standardization was carried out in accordance with the necessary requirements for testing validity and reliability. Based on the results of exploratory factor analysis, 6 scales were identified that reflect the main components of responsibility: “Support”, “Self-control”, “Conscience”, “Social responsibility”, “Care for the environment”, “Avoidance of responsibility”. The scales have good internal consistency. Checking the convergent validity when comparing the general indicator of responsibility and the indicator of internality of the “Methods for diagnosing the level of subjective control” showed a significant correlation. The good psychometric indicators of the methodology and its portability allow us to recommend it for both individual and group work with adolescents.</p>

Психометрические показатели шкалы «Проактивные аттитюды» в подростковом возрасте: проверка факторной структуры и внутренней согласованности

<p>This study was carried out as part of the development of psychodiagnostics tools for studying the proactive coping behavior in adolescents. Currently, there are few studies on proactive coping in adolescence, given the variety of studies on general coping behavior in adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify the psychometric properties of R. Schwarzer’s “Proactive Attitudes” scale, including its factor structure, internal consistency and validity, among adolescents. A total sample of 237 participants (117 girls and 120 boys) aged 11–15 years old (M=13.2; SD=1.41), was used. The scale consists of 8 questions and was designed to assess the level of proactive attitudes towards future events. The scale showed acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient α=0.78). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the scale (“Responsibility and independent choice”), using confirmatory factor analysis the one-factor structure of the scale was confirmed (χ²=34.17; CFI=0.959 acceptable, SRMR=0.041; SMSEA=0.069 with 90% confidence interval 0.032–0.104). The scale demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity. Average scores on the scale are presented, gender differences were not found. The “Proactive Attitudes” scale can be used as an effective tool for assessing a person’s proactive orientation in adolescence, and has acceptable psychometric indicators. The prospect of work should focus on standardizing of the scale for other age groups with different professional and social status, including clinical sample.</p>

Association of OPRD1 Gene Variants with Changes in Body Weight and Psychometric Indicators in Patients with Eating Disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether genetic variations in the OPRD1 gene affect psychopathological symptoms and personality dimensions in eating disorders (ED) patients and/or contribute to ED risk. Methods: The study involved 221 female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), 88 with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 396 controls. Sixteen tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in OPRD1 were identified. Psychometric evaluations were conducted using the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R) and the Eating Disorders Inventory Test-2 (EDI-2). p-values obtained by regression models were corrected for multiple testing by the False Discovery Rate (FDR) method. Results: In AN patients, genotypes rs204077TT and rs169450TT were linked to lower body-mass index (BMI) values (FDR-q = 0.035 and 0.017, respectively), as was rs2234918 in a log-additive model (BMI: 18.0 ± 0.28, 17.22 ± 0.18 and 16.59 ± 0.39 for TT, TC and CC carriers, FDR-q = 0.012). Additionally, AN patients carrying the rs72665504AA genotype had higher scores in interpersonal distrust (FDR-q = 0.030), whilst BN carriers of rs513269TT and rs2873795TT showed lower scores in ineffectiveness (FDR-q = 0.041 and FDR-q = 0.021). In the AN group, BMI correlated with variability in a distal haplotype (rs508448/rs204077/rs223491, FDR-q = 0.028), which was also associated with the global positive symptom total (PST) index of SCL-90R (FDR-q = 0.048). Associations were more noticeable in BN patients; again, the distal region of the gene was linked to EDI-2 total scores (FDR-q = 0.004-0.048 for the four last haplotypes) and two global SCL-90R indices (GSI: FDR-q = 0.011 and positive symptom distress index (PSDI): FDR-q = 0.003 for the last s204077/rs2234918/rs169450 combination). No associations with ED risk were observed. Conclusions: Genetic variation in the OPRD1 gene, particularly in its distal region, is associated with BMI and psychopathological comorbidities in ED patients.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (Pr-WEMWBS)

Background: The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is one of the most important scales for measuring mental well-being, and it has been translated into various languages. Objectives: This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (Pr-WEMWBS). Methods: Face and content validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were assessed. The WEMWBS was translated using the forward-backward translation method. Eleven employees and eight experts evaluated the face and content validity of the scale. A total of 193 employees were recruited for construct validity, and 36 employees were involved in the test-retest reliability assessment. Results: The impact score for all items was above 4.30. In the EFA, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value was 0.87, and Bartlett's test (χ2 = 1216.28, P ≤ 0.000) confirmed the adequacy of the sample size. Using direct Oblimin rotation, three latent factors were extracted with eigenvalues greater than 1. In the CFA, the model fit summary indices were satisfactory (GFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.10, CFI = 1.00, CMIN/DF = 2.91, PNFI = 0.673, PCFI = 0.714). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.901. The mean ICC was 0.889 (range: 0.863 to 0.912). Conclusions: The Pr-WEMWBS demonstrates good validity and reliability across most psychometric indices, making it suitable for use in Persian-speaking communities.

Development and validation of a new satisfaction scale for objective structured clinical assessments (S-OSCA): A multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundNursing clinical competence assessment has acquired a special relevance at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in recent years. In this context, the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) has emerged as a valid and feasible method of assessing nursing competence. The Satisfaction with Nursing Skill Examination: Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (SINE-OSCA) scale is a valid and reliable 10-item measure that has been developed to evaluate nursing students' satisfaction with the OSCA in the Australian context. Given the importance that OSCA has gained in Spain, it is necessary to validate this tool to be used in one of the most spoken languages in the world. ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to carry out a modification of the SINE-OSCA, cross-cultural adaptation and a psychometric analysis of the new S-OSCA with Spanish nursing students. DesignA multicenter study of questionnaire development and validation was carried out in 2023 in four Spanish university nursing centers. The study was carried out in 3 phases: design, pilot implementation, and construct validation. Participants/settingThe total population of students from these centers amounted to 1350 students. The final sample consisted of 364 nursing students, selected by convenience sampling. MethodsThe process of translation and cultural adaptation of SINE-OSCA to the Spanish population was carried out following the guidelines proposed by Beaton et al. Content validation, Internal consistency and temporal reliability were evaluated. ResultsThe S-OSCA presents values in the psychometric indicators (V AIKEN, Bland-Altman diagram, and IVC Lawshe) that exceed the cut-off values established even considering the lower limit of the confidence intervals. This spanish version of the SINE-OSCA has a Cronbach's alpha value that is slightly higher than that reported for that original version (0.928 CI 95 % (0.913–0.94)). Regarding temporal reliability, the S-OSCA scale was completed in 40 nursing students at two times separated by an interval of 15 days. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) obtained was 0.974 CI 95 % (0.952–0.986). ConclusionsThe S-OSCA instrument proves to be robust enough to guarantee the quality of its results up to 15 days post-OSCA.

Re-examining the factor structure of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and defining the meaningful within-individual change (MWIC) for subjects with insomnia disorder in two phase III clinical trials of the efficacy of lemborexant

BackgroundThe Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a widely used measure of insomnia severity. Various ISI research findings suggest different factor solutions and meaningful within-individual change (MWIC) to detect treatment response in patients with insomnia. This study examined an ISI factor solution and psychometric indices to define MWIC in a robust patient sample from clinical trial settings.MethodsWe endeavored to improve upon previous validation of ISI by examining structural components of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models using two large, placebo-controlled clinical trials of lemborexant for insomnia. Using the best-fitting two-factor solution, we evaluated anchor-based, distribution-based and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve methods to derive an estimate of the MWIC.ResultsThe model structure for the 7-item scale proposed in other research did not fit the observed data from our two lemborexant clinical trials (N = 1956) as well as a two-factor solution based on 6 items did. Using triangulation of anchor-based, distribution-based, and ROC methods, we determined that a 5-point reduction using 6 items best represented a clinically meaningful improvement in individuals with insomnia in our patient sample.ConclusionsA 6-item two-factor scale had better psychometric properties than the 7-item scale in this patient sample. On the 6-item scale, a reduction of 5 points in the ISI total score represented the MWIC. Generalizability of the proposed MWIC may be limited to patient populations with similar demographic and clinical characteristics.

A Psychometric Examination of the Abbreviated Version of the Parenting Styles Scale Using a Sample of Chilean Adolescents.

Parenting styles have been related to a series of variables that contribute positively to adulthood. The maternal and paternal parenting styles scale is a measure that presents a multidimensional structure of six correlated factors. However, the version available for Chile is extensive, with 82 items measuring this latent trait. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the reliability and validity of the abbreviated version of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale using a sample of Chilean adolescents. The sample consisted of 2131 students of both the male and female sexes (51% males and 49% females) with a mean age of 15.85 years (SD = 1.37). The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the six-factor correlated model, showing robust psychometric indices for both modelling approaches. In relation to the factorial invariance models, the results show factorial equivalence at the scalar invariance level for the variables of sex, age, academic achievement, and type of school. The scale showed adequate levels of reliability. This study concludes that the abbreviated version of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale is a reliable and valid instrument for its application in Chilean adolescents.

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF): Psychometric indicators in a Brazilian community sample

Objective: To investigate psychometric properties (internal structure, convergent/discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest) of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF) in a Brazilian community sample. Method: This is a study with a psychometric design. A sample of 527 adults from the general population (69.9% women; 33.5 ± 14.0 years; 74.0% ≥ 12 years education) responded to the instrument online after the study was disseminated on social networks and to the researchers’ contacts. The NEO-PI-R and sociodemographic questionnaire were applied besides the PID-5-BF, and a retest was applied 15-30 days after the initial assessment for reliability assessment. Data were analyzed using statistical techniques (IBM SPSS19 and Factor20); the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05 for all the analyses. Results: Internal consistency was verified using Cronbach’s alpha and was adequate (domains α ≥ 0.69; total α = 0.87), in addition to test-retest reliability (domains ICC ≥ 0.82; total ICC = 0.95). Divergences were found between the PID-5-BF different domains despite them being significantly correlated with each other. Convergent validity with the NEO-PI-R was adequate, with moderate/strong correlations between the domains theoretically associated (r > 0.38). The internal structure (Exploratory Factor Analysis) indicated that the original five-factor model (CFI = 0.991; TLI = 0.986; RMSEA = 0.033) and one-factor model were adequate (CFI = 0.908; TLI = 0.899; RMSEA = 0.089. Conclusions: The findings support using the PID-5-BF Brazilian version, which presented adequate psychometric properties comparable to the original version. This instrument can be helpful in the clinical and research fields to screen general and specific traits of personality pathology. Future studies are suggested to expand the psychometric findings among clinical samples, confirming the instrument’s scope of reach.

Адаптация русскоязычной версии «Шкалы осознанного выбора и самосознания» (PCASS - Perceived Choice And Awareness Of Self Scale)

<p style="text-align: justify;">To date, the issue of expanding the arsenal of adapted foreign tools (or creating their own) for assessing the level of self-determination of personality remains quite relevant. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to adaptation on the Russian-language sample of the modern version of the Self-Determination Scale by K. Sheldon and co-authors, in an updated version called the Perceived Choice and Awareness of Self Scale. Methods. The scale was translated with subsequent questioning of 588 respondents (residents of Russia, students of St. Petersburg educational institutions), including 325 women and 263 men (mean age - 20,5 ± 2,39, Mo = 21). Results. When assessing the psychometric properties of the Russian-language version of the adaptable questionnaire, significant results were obtained, indicating the reproducibility of the number and structure of the factors that form the two subscales of the original methodology. Also, psychometric indicators confirm the reliability, internal consistency, structural and constructive validity of the Russian version of the methodology. In addition, according to our study, the questionnaire is characterized by high differentiating ability and diagnostic sensitivity: significant gender differences were found in the Russian-speaking sample in terms of perceived choice and self-awareness. Conclusions. According to the results obtained, the adapted version of the questionnaire has good psychometric characteristics and can be used as a qualitative research tool.</p>

Multiracial Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (MRMET): An inclusive version of an influential measure

Can an inclusive test of face cognition meet or exceed the psychometric properties of a prominent less inclusive test? Here, we norm and validate an updated version of the influential Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a clinically significant neuropsychiatric paradigm that has long been used to assess theory of mind and social cognition. Unlike the RMET, our Multiracial Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (MRMET) incorporates racially inclusive stimuli, nongendered answer choices, ground-truth referenced answers, and more accessible vocabulary. We show, via a series of large datasets, that the MRMET meets or exceeds RMET across major psychometric indices. Moreover, the reliable signal captured by the two tests is statistically indistinguishable, evidence for full interchangeability. We thus present the MRMET as a high-quality, inclusive, normed and validated alternative to the RMET, and as a case in point that inclusivity in psychometric tests of face cognition is an achievable aim. The MRMET test and our normative and validation data sets are openly available under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license at osf.io/ahq6n.

Investigating the effect of grit trait on performance and success in Hungarian athlete's sample.

The aim of the present study is to translate the Grit questionnaire into Hungarian and validate specifically within the context of sports. The second goal is to assess the questionnaire in Hungarian as a pilot study in the athlete population and to compare the grit trait with the coaches' athlete evaluation. Two hundred and sixty nine athletes, including 40 national team players, took part in the study, with an average age of 18.17 years (SD = 5.51). For the preliminary assessment, the Cloninger Temperament and Character Questionnaire (TCI-RH) was used; the coaches' athlete evaluation was modeled on a talent map. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the fit of the two-factor structure, and the internal reliability of the questionnaire scales also proved to be adequate. 2. There is no relationship between adolescents' perceived grit and coach ratings. 3. The national team players achieved a higher grit score. Based on the psychometric indicators, the validity and reliability of the questionnaire proved to be adequate. Therefore, it is applicable and useful for psychological practitioners and researchers in the Hungarian population within the context of sports.

Development and psychometric evaluation of uncertainty about disease and treatment scale in hemodialysis patients: a sequential-exploratory mixed-method study

Background and objectiveThe need for long-term treatment and frequent visits to treatment centers for hemodialysis can lead to psychological problems such as Uncertainty about Disease and Treatment (UC about D&T) in patients with chronic kidney failure. In order to understand uncertainty about disease and treatment and to plan for preventive measures and care interventions in various dimensions, there is a need for reliable and valid tools. The present study was conducted to design and psychometrically evaluate the Uncertainty about Disease and Treatment Scale (UC about D&TS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis.MethodsThis study is of a methodological type and conducted in two stages. The first stage included a deductive (literature review) and an inductive approach (face-to-face interviews). In the second stage, psychometric indices of the UC about D&TS, including face validity (qualitative-quantitative), content validity (qualitative-quantitative), construct validity (exploratory factor analysis), and reliability (using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) were examined.ResultsIn the literature review stage, 66 items were extracted, and in the qualitative stage, 48 items were extracted. After merging similar items, 29 items were entered into the psychometric process. No items were removed in the face and content validity stages. In the construct validity stage, five factors were extracted, including self-uncertainty, uncertain situation, uncertain future, uncertainty of treatment outcomes, and information uncertainty, which constituted a total of 82.16% of the total variance. In this stage, five items were removed from the study due to a corrected item-total correlation below 0.32, and four items were removed due to cross-loading. The α and Ω were calculated as 0.828 and 0.818, respectively. The measurement stability and standard error of measurement were estimated at 0.977 and 2.019, respectively.ConclusionThe results showed that the UC about D&TS is a valid and reliable measure for patients undergoing hemodialysis. This scale is specifically designed to measure UC about D&T in hemodialysis patients, and it is recommended that healthcare providers (Hcps) use this scale in follow-up visits.

Psychometric features of the Cocaine Use Motivation Questionnaire (CUMQ)

ObjectivesCocaine use has tended to increase over the past decade, particularly among younger populations. Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit substance in France. Over the past few years, there has been an uptick in cocaine consumption in the country. The observed increase in consumption raises questions about the underlying motives. The goal of the present study is to construct and validate a questionnaire that explores the motivation behind cocaine use. Materials and methodsThis paper consists of two studies conducted on different data collections. In the first study, one thousand, one hundred and thirteen (n=1113) individuals participated and six hundred and seventy (n=670) individuals participated in the second study. All participants were current or former cocaine users. These participants completed an online sociodemographic questionnaire, a constructed questionnaire exploring motivations for cocaine use. This questionnaire was developed using the self-determination theory of (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and 11 semi-structured interviews with users. The purpose of these interviews was to explore the motivation for cocaine use, the expected benefits, and the negative consequences. From literature and the corpus of previously completed interviews, a first version of the questionnaire with 31 items was produced. The research respects the ethical recommendations of Helsinki and has received a favorable opinion from the research ethics committee. The data was collected anonymously and on a voluntary basis. ResultsIn the first study, 574 (51.6%) men and 539 (48.4%) women participated. The mean age of the participants was 25.0 years (SD=5.83) ranging from 18 to 65 years old. In the second study 310 (46.3%) men and 360 (53.7%) women participated. The mean age of the participants was 25.7 years (SD=4.23) ranging from 18 to 48 years old. Initially, an exploratory factor analysis was carried out. This first analysis resulted in a 23-item questionnaire with a four-factor solution: pleasant sensations, social pressure and self-image, absence of motivation, and curiosity and experience. The psychometric indicators were quite satisfactory with X2 (465)=15951, P<0.001 for the Bartlett test and 0.91 for the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) test. In the second part of the research, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a solution with three factors and 21 items. Psychometric indicators showed CFI (Comparative Fit Index)=0.89, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation)=0.06 and SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual)=0.06. The three main factors for cocaine use were: pleasant and positive sensations, social pressure and self-esteem, and amotivation. ConclusionsThis study laid the groundwork for the development of a valid questionnaire to explore and better understand the cocaine users’ motivations, thereby enabling preventive and therapeutic measures to be adjusted accordingly. This questionnaire can also be used for future research on cocaine use, which is focused on mental health as well as family history and history of traumatic life events, as associated with cocaine use. We may also consider replicating this study on a clinical population with a cocaine-dependency diagnosis, potentially revealing additional motivations.

Situational Factors of Mental States Questionnaire

This article describes the process of creating diagnostic tools aimed at assessing the degree of influence of internal and external factors, as well as key parameters included in them, on the change in a person's mental state. The main stages of the questionnaire creation and modification are described in detail. The main psychometric indicators of the questionnaire are given: results of convergent and constructive validity, assessment of the internal consistency of the questionnaire and reliability. 520 respondents took part in the testing of the questionnaire, mainly students, whose average age was 23 years. At the first stage of the questionnaire, the sample was 105 people, at the second  137, at the third stage  278. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire ‟Situational factors of mental states” make it possible to use it to assess the degree of influence of internal and external factors, key parameters included in them, on the change in the current mental state of a person. The practical guilt lies in the fact that on the basis of the conducted phenomenological research, the author’s questionnaire “Situational factors of medical conditions” was developed, which can complement the objective picture of the study of a person’s biological conditions, his personality characteristics, as well as the level of various factors of the human condition on changes in condition. The results indicate that this questionnaire is a convenient psychodiagnostic tool, does not require long time to fill out, process and has the necessary psychometric characteristics.

How Dark Is the Core of Dark Personality Traits?

Abstract: Previous research on the organizing structure of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits has consistently found support for the presence of a strong commonality among the DT traits. However, such research has typically relied on a data collection method (e.g., single-source data, multiple traits measured together at the same time) that increases the likelihood of common method variance (CMV) that can artifactually increase the covariance between item scores. In the current study, we administered the 27-item Short Dark Triad (SD3) to 509 working adults in South Korea. Specifically, we added a procedural remedy to mitigate the effect of CMV (temporal separation of 2–5 days between measures), then used a bifactor model to extract a general core of the DT traits along with specific variance that is unique to each trait. Then, we calculated several model-based psychometric indices (omega coefficients, explained common variance) to examine the relative strength of the general and specific variances. Additionally, we examined the degree to which unique variance associated with each DT trait provides incremental validity beyond prediction provided by the commonality among the DT traits for predicting counterproductive work behavior. Results showed that the empirical overlap among the DT traits was not as strong as indicated in previous research.

Creative thinking and cognitive estimation in Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundPatients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been reported to exhibit unusual bouts of creativity (e.g., painting, writing), in particular in the context of treatment with dopaminergic agents. Here we investigated divergent and convergent thinking thought to underlie creativity. In addition we assessed cognitive estimation.MethodTwenty PD patients and 20 matched healthy control participants were subjected to the Guilford Alternate Uses task (divergent thinking), the remote associates task (convergent thinking) and two tests of cognitive estimation.ResultsNo group differences were found for the convergent thinking task, while the Guilford Alternate Uses task revealed a decreased number of correct responses and a reduced originality for PD patients. Originality in PD was correlated to total daily dose of dopaminergic medication. Moreover, both tasks of cognitive estimation showed an impairment in PD.ConclusionOnly minor effects were found for psychometric indices of subprocesses of creative thinking, while estimation, relying on executive functioning, is impaired in PD. We suggest to take a product oriented view of creativity in further research on altered creative processes in PD.