Convergent Validity Study Research Articles

An Analysis of SRSS-IE Externalizing Cut Scores to Facilitate Data-Informed Decision-Making in K–12 Schools

We report the results of a convergent validity study examining the externalizing subscale (SRSS-E5, five items) of the adapted Student Risk Screening Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE 9) with the externalizing subscale of the Teacher Report Form (TRF) with two samples of K–12 students. Results of logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves analyzed with a sample of 195 K–5 students from 13 schools across three states suggested the following preliminary cutting scores for the SRSS-E5 for use at the elementary level: 0 to 1 for low risk, 2 to 3 for moderate risk, and 4 to 15 for high risk for externalizing behaviors. Results of the same analyses with a sample of 227 students in Grades 6 to 12 suggested the following preliminary cutting scores for the SRSS-E5 for use in middle and high (secondary) schools: 0 to 4 for low risk, 5 to 6 for moderate risk, and 7 to 15 for high risk for externalizing behaviors. For both samples, sensitivity and specificity levels were acceptable, as was the correct classification rate. We discuss findings and limitations and emphasize the importance of replication before shifting screening practices from the SRSS-IE 12 (12 items) to the newly adapted SRSS-IE 9 (9 items).

A virtue-based measurement of leadership education: The LID questionnaire

This article presents the validation of a virtue-based leadership development questionnaire (LID). Leadership is defined as the human action of guiding others toward a common good, which requires the exercise of personal competencies and virtues. The theoretical and factorial structure of LID has three domains: intellectual, relational and performative. The LID was administered to a sample of 1759 university students from Mexico and Spain for factor analysis. Subsequently, it was applied to a sample of 1906 students from a Mexican university for confirmatory factor analysis and to 171 Mexican students for a convergent validity study with the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (SRLS). Psychometric analyses indicate that the questionnaire is reliable and valid. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the questionnaire fits the theoretical model and has convergent validity with the SRLS. This questionnaire aims to contribute to the leadership education of university students.

Validation of the French version of the preschool form of the social responsiveness scale-second edition (SRS-2-P)

ObjectivesTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the French form of the preschool social responsiveness scale-2 (SRS-2-P-Fr). ParticipantsA sample of French children aged 2 to 4 years comprising a group of 93 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a community control group of 201 children. Materials and methodsStudy of internal consistency using Cronbach's α coefficient, convergent validity using correlations with the ADI-R and ADOS-2, and diagnostic accuracy using the receiver operating characteristic curve to determine the best threshold scores useful for screening ASD in preschool children. ResultsGood internal consistency (0.78 to 0.98) according to Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the total score and the sub-scores of the SRS-2-P scale. The study of convergent validity showed strong correlations with the total score of the ADOS-2 Toddlers and the communication and reciprocal social interaction sub-scores of the ADI-R. Diagnostic accuracy indicated that the best cut-off score for detecting ASDs was 56 (area under the curve=0.97, sensitivity 0.925, specificity 0.98). ConclusionThe SRS-2-P-Fr is a valid instrument for the early detection of ASD in preschool children in France and can facilitate diagnosis.

The Chinese Mandarin COMHON Index and Braden Scale to assess pressure injury risk in intensive care: An inter-rater reliability and convergent validity study

BackgroundThe COMHON Index is an intensive-care-specific pressure injury risk assessment tool, which has demonstrated promising psychometric properties. It has been translated into Chinese Mandarin but requires inter-rater reliability testing and comparison to the standard care instrument (Braden Scale) before clinical use. ObjectivesThis study aimed to test and compare the inter-rater reliability and convergent validity of the Chinese Mandarin versions of the COMHON Index and Braden Scale. MethodsThe study was conducted in a Chinese comprehensive intensive care unit. Based on a sample size calculation, five registered nurse raters with at least 6-months experience independently conducted risk assessments for 20 adult patients using both the COMHON Index and Braden Scale. Intraclass correlations (ICC) for inter-rater reliability, standard errors of measurement (SEM), and minimally detectable change (MDC) were calculated. Convergent validity was assessed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation for sum scores and Spearman's rho for subscales. ResultsInter-rater reliability of COMHON Index and Braden Scale sum scores was very high (ICC [1,1] = 0.973; [95% confidence interval 0.949–0.988]; SEM 0.54; MDC 1.50) and high (ICC [1,1] = 0.891; [95% confidence interval 0.793-0.951]; SEM 0.93; MDC 2.57), respectively. All COMHON-Index subscales demonstrated ICC values >0.6, whereas two Braden Scale subscales (Mobility, Activity) were below this threshold. Instrument sum scores were strongly correlated (Pearson's r = −0.76 [r2 = 0.58]; p < 0.001), as were three subscale item pairs (mobility rs= −0.56 [r2 = 0.32]; nutrition rs= −0.63 [r2 = 0.39]; level of consciousness/sensory perception rs= −0.67 [r2 = 0.45] p < 0.001). ConclusionBoth the COMHON Index and Braden Scale demonstrated high levels of inter-rater reliability and measured similar constructs. However, the COMHON Index demonstrated superior inter-rater reliability and the results suggest that it better detects changes in patient condition and subsequently pressure injury risk. Further testing is recommended.

Instrument to evaluate the perception of abuse and/or disrespectful treatment during childbirth: A validation study

AimTo design and validate a tool to assess a woman's perception of whether she has experienced a situation of abuse or disrespect during childbirth attendance: “Childbirth Abuse and Respect Evaluation-Maternal Questionnaire” (CARE-MQ). MethodsMultidisciplinary panel of experts (gynecologists, midwives, mothers) participated in creating CARE-MQ. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 901 Spanish women who had given birth between 1 and 3 months before to determine psychometric characteristics. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and a convergent validity study were carried out with the Quality Questionnaire from the Patient's Perspective-Intrapartum (QPP-I), and a reliability study using internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and coefficient of intraclass correlation (CCI). FindingsThe KMO test gave a value of 0.935, and Bartlett's sphericity test was <0.001. The EFA identified four components (“Emotional Abuse”, “Inadequate Professionalism”, “Physical Abuse” y “Lost contact”) that explained 55.16 % of variance. In the CFA, a good fit was observed for most of the evaluated indicators. CARE-MQ correlated negatively with QPP-I (Spearman's rho = −0.641, 95 % CI: −0.679, −0.600; p < 0.001) and was statistically associated with variables related to childbirth experience (p < 0.005) such as the use of a birth plan, use of regional analgesia, type of birth, episiotomy, presence of severe tears, skin-to-skin contact, length of hospital stay and postpartum surgical intervention. Cronbach's α value was 0.903. The ICC of absolute agreement after administering the questionnaire one week after was 0.927 (95 % CI: 0.85–0.97). ConclusionsCARE-MQ is a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate the perception of a woman regarding the situation of abuse and/or disrespect that she may have experienced during birth in a population of Spanish postpartum women.

The ethical student scale: development of a new measure

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop the “ethical student scale” to understand the underlying factors that lead to the decisions of cheating and plagiarism and where business students are developmentally from a moral perspective and to help academic institutions assess how best to develop ethical education throughout the curriculum. This three-dimensional nine-item scale based on Kohlberg’s moral development model is proposed to serve as a valuable tool for educators who are struggling with identifying the best approach to help their students make ethical choices both within and outside of the walls of their educational institutions and once they join the workforce. Design/methodology/approach Four survey design studies were conducted to determine what factors had previously been identified to both negatively and positively impact the propensity of a university student to engage in cheating and/or plagiarizing (Study 1, N = 179), to preliminarily validate the three dimension nine item scale that emerged from Study 1 (Study 2, N = 87); to test the construct validity of the three-dimensional nine-item scale (Study 3, N = 235); and to test the nine-item scale for convergent, divergent and predictive validity (Study 4, N = 201). The four surveys were administered to undergraduate students at two universities in the Northeast in the USA. Findings To shed light on the underlying factors that lead to the decisions of cheating and plagiarism, the authors propose three factors that are engaged when students make these types of ethical decisions: rules and enforcement as an external control, personal morality as an internal control and social influences as a social control (Kohlberg, 1976). Through four studies, this paper presents a three-dimensional nine-item scale based on Kohlberg’s moral development model to determine the factors that influence the propensity of a university student to engage in cheating and/or plagiarizing. The proposed scale showed strong reliability across the three dimensions. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the scale are that this research was restricted to an academic setting. The relationship between the academic environment, the resulting behaviors of students and the subsequent behavior of these students as managers also needs investigation to determine if business ethics education does have an impact on increasing ethical decision-making. Practical implications The ethical student scale attempts to measure the development stage of students in a university setting and has the potential utility to help higher education institutions better understand the moral development of their students and what drives their decisions to engage in an ethical manner. Being a short yet reliable tool, ethical student scale may help business schools develop programs beyond a single business ethics course to instill ethical decision-making in students. Social implications One of the goals as business educators is to produce ethical managers. The ethical student scale can help us develop a more integrated approach to business ethics education. As the students become managers and leaders in organizations, the social implications for more ethical decision-makers and organizations are widespread and vital to the community and the economy. Originality/value Ethical student scale is an attempt to quantify what types of controls (external, social, or personal) help develop ethical students and ethical managers. Based on Kohlberg’s moral development model, this three-dimensional nine-item scale which shows strong reliability will serve as a valuable tool for educators who are struggling with identifying the best approach to the issue of unethical decisions and behaviors as they try to create strategies to help their students make ethical choices both within and outside of the walls of their educational institutions and once they join the workforce.

Suite test. A virtual reality based neuropsychological assessment tool for memory. A normative study on immediate, short-term and delayed memory tasks

Objective To collect normative data for the Suite test, a virtual reality (VR) tool designed to assess memory processes. Method The normative sample included 676 subjects (49.7% female), aged from 12 to 85 years. The Suite test comprises a 360-degree VR environment designed as a furniture shop, in which participants must group specific sets of furniture items (ordered by different families of customers) by clicking on the furniture to be packed following instructions from a voice-over. Results Core variables provided were grouped into immediate, short-term and long-term delayed recall. Cluster analyses established five age groups (12 years old, 13 to 26, 27 to 44, 45 to 58, and 59 to 85) with gender differentiated norms only deemed necessary for those transitioning from adolescence to adulthood (13 to 26) and from middle age to older adulthood (45 to 58). No statistically significant differences were found for additional gender × age normative groups, or for any group differentiated by educational level. A confirmatory factor analysis raised the existence of two differentiated factors, one associated to encoding processes (immediate memory trials) and the other to retrieval processes (both short term and long-term delayed recall trials grouping into the same factor). Additional results on the test reliability and internal consistency are presented. Conclusions Suite Test can help explore memory deficits across the life span and differentiate between visual and verbal memory strategies. Further research is required to study the test sensitivity and specificity, as well as convergent validity studies with well-established memory assessment tools.

Form Matters—Technical Cues in the Single Leg Heel Raise to Failure Test Significantly Change the Outcome: A Study of Convergent Validity in Australian Football Players

Practitioners routinely use the single leg heel raise (SLHR) to quantify calf function in healthy and injured populations. Despite this, approaches vary and the impact of cueing on SLHR performance and results interpretation in athletesis unknown. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the level of agreement of the cued versus non-cued SLHR tests. The secondary aim was to explore test outcomes and the potential impact of intrinsic factors. Cued and non-cued SLHR tests were conducted in fifty-one Australian football players (23 women, 28 men). Metronome pacing (60 bpm) and five key cues were included in the cued condition. The level of agreement (Bland–Altman) between tests was measured for capacity (repetitions to failure) and asymmetry. Data from 100 legs were included. The non-cued and cued SLHR tests demonstrated poor agreement in both capacity and asymmetry. More repetitions to failure were performed in the non-cued SLHR [Mean (SD) = 33.9 (10.3) vs. 21.9 (5.3), p &lt; 0.001)], and men had greater capacity (36.8 (10.4) vs. 30.3 (9.2), p &lt; 0.001). During the cued SLHR, older players (age ≥ 30 years: −5.1 repetitions, p = 0.01) and Indigenous players (−3.4 repetitions, p = 0.002) and had reduced calf muscle function. Cueing the SLHR test significantly changes the result—outcomes are not comparable or interchangeable with the commonly used non-cued SLHR. These findings can guide practitioners quantifying calf capacity.

The unexplored territory of aesthetic needs and the development of the Aesthetic Needs Scale.

Human needs, and their fulfillment, are the building blocks of human development, personality, and well-being. However, no published paper in the field of psychology has focused on exploring aesthetic needs. Maslow (1986) gave the topic little more than a paragraph; and Dweck [1], in her elegant Unified Theory of Motivation, Personality, and Development, never mentions aesthetic needs. The aim of this article is to describe developing a scale for measuring the intensity of aesthetic needs. The structure, psychometric properties, and criterion-related validity of the scale were verified with three independent samples (total N = 592). The results of an EFA and two CFAs indicated a three-factor structure: 1) the need to aestheticize everyday life (aesthetic experiences of everyday objects and events unrelated to art, such as the presentation of food or the appearance of a workspace, etc.); 2) the need for contact with aesthetic creations (the arts); 3) the need to aestheticize the built and natural environments (urban spaces, architecture, parks, wild nature, etc.). In addition, our criterion-related convergent validity studies have shown that people with high aesthetic needs are characterized by experiencing more intense experiences in contact with works of art, have higher aesthetic competence in art, are more intensely involved in four forms of beauty, have a higher ability to integrate beauty, a stronger trait gratitude, curiosity about nature, greater sensitivity to disgust, and the need for internal and external stimulation. This scale may prove useful in research on individual differences and the psychology of aesthetics.

The Breakfast and Dressing Conflict Task: Preliminary Evidence of Its Validity to Measure Online Self-Awareness After Acquired Brain Injury.

Impaired self-awareness (SA) of deficits after an acquired brain injury (ABI) severely affects patients' independence in activities of daily living (ADLs). However, any assessment tool permits an exhaustive evaluation of SA in the context of ADLs. To study the validity of the Breakfast and Dressing Conflict Task (BD Conflict Task) to assess online SA (awareness of performance in the context of a given task) in patients with ABI; to study its interactions with offline SA (general awareness); and to test the validity of a simplified measure of performance monitoring, the ADL Conflict-Monitoring Index. Convergent validity and correlational study. Research laboratory, hospitals, and homes. Thirty patients with ABI and 28 neurologically healthy controls. Using the BD Conflict Task, measures of emergent awareness, self-regulation, anticipatory awareness, and self-evaluation were assessed and their convergent validity and relationship with offline SA were analyzed. The ADL Conflict-Monitoring Index was calculated, and its convergent validity was tested. The online SA variables of the BD Conflict Task showed convergent validity with traditional online SA measures. Offline SA correlated with emergent and anticipatory awareness in the Breakfast Task. The ADL Conflict-Monitoring Index proved to be a valid measure of patients' performance monitoring. These preliminary findings suggest that the BD Conflict Task is a valid tool to assess online SA in patients with ABI and provide further understanding of the online SA-offline SA interaction. Furthermore, the ADL Conflict-Monitoring Index may be a valid and easy-to-use monitoring measure in clinical settings. Plain-Language Summary: Patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) and reduced awareness of their cognitive deficits face problems performing activities of daily living (ADLs) and may show signs of unsafe behaviors. Being aware of one's own abilities involves anticipating problems before starting a task, detecting and correcting errors during the task, and evaluating performance afterward. This study provides preliminary validity for the Breakfast and Dressing Conflict Task, a new tool that assesses aspects of self-awareness simultaneously in the context of familiar and significant ADLs. Furthermore, the tool simplifies the assessment of detecting and correcting errors with an easy-to-use index, making it suitable for use in clinical settings.

Design and Validation of an Instrument for the Evaluation of the Quality of Mother‐Child Bond and Attachment: “Cuestionario Vínculo y Apego Materno‐Filial” (VAMF Questionnaire)

The relationship between a mother and her newborn can be determined through two concepts: “bond” and “attachment.” Currently, there are no instruments that assess these phenomena jointly. Objective. This study aims to develop a valid and reliable instrument to determine the quality of the postnatal bond and attachment in the mother‐child relationship. Methods. In Spain, a multidisciplinary panel of experts was involved in creating the “Maternal‐Child Bond and Attachment (VAMF, for its initials in Spanish)” tool. The tool was piloted on a group of women and applied to the target population of women with children aged between 6 weeks and 18 months to determine the psychometric characteristics: internal consistency Cronbach’s α was used. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, a study of convergent validity with the scale and predictive validity with the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and a study of reliability was carried out using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results. 1155 women participated, with a mean age of 34.5 years. The VAMF showed good internal consistency for the scale with 29 items (α = 0.836). In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), an explained variance of 49.71% was observed with 6 components. Convergent validity showed an adequate correlation, with a Pearson correlation coefficient with the MPAS scale of 0.679. The VAMF questionnaire presented an excellent predictive capacity in the bond subscale, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87–0.93), and a poor predictive capacity in the attachment subscale, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.63–0.76) to predict MPAS scale scores. In the test‐retest, the VAMF presented a very good adequate degree of absolute agreement (ICC: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.72–0.93). Conclusions. The VAMF is a new valid and reliable instrument for determining the quality of the mother‐child bond and attachment.

Adaptation and Validation of the German Reading Comprehension Test ELFE II for Spanish

Abstract: The objective of this study is to present the process of adaptation and validation of the German reading comprehension test ELFE II ( Lenhard et al., 2017 ) for Spanish. Both languages exhibit comparable orthographic depth but differ in their word material due to their different origins (Romanic vs. Germanic language roots). We reconstructed the test based on the original structure and construction principles and aligned syllable structure, frequency, and word length. Convergent validity, item analysis, dimensionality, and reliability studies provide evidence to support a unidimensional structure for each scale subtest, which in turn is in accordance with theoretical frameworks.

Examining the Association Between the Computer-Aided Scoring and Manual Scoring for the Beery Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (Beery VMI) and Children’s Handwriting Skills: A Convergent Validity Study

ABSTRACT Introduction Visual motor integration (VMI) is an important underlying mechanism for children’s handwriting. The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) is commonly used to assess children’s VMI skills, using a manual scoring method which can be prone to individual subjectivity and impact its sensitivity. This study investigated the use of the Computer-Aided Scoring System for scoring the Berry VMI (CASS-Beery VMI) to assess school-aged children’s VMI and handwriting skills. Specifically, the convergent validity between the CASS-Beery VMI and three standardized handwriting assessments was investigated. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. Thirty-five neurotypical Australian students aged 6–9 years completed the Beery-VMI–6th edition, Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (MHA), Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting – Manuscript (ETCH-M) and the Here’s How I Write Assessment – Child version (HHIW-C). The Berry-VMI was scored using its original scoring method and the CASS-Beery VMI. Thirty parents of the child participants completed the Here’s How I Write Assessment – Parent version (HHIW-P). Descriptive statistics, Spearman rho correlations and regression analyses using bootstrapping were completed. Results The CASS-Beery VMI error scores were significantly correlated with the Beery-VMI score, and subscales of the MHA, ETCH and HHIW-P scores (r = 0.341– −0.555; p = .045–0.001). The CASS-Beery VMI error scores and Beery VMI raw scores were found to be significant predictors of the ETCH-M number legibility scores (adjusted R2 = 0.209; p = 0.017) and MHA form scores (adjusted R2 = 0.220; p = 0.007). Individually, the CASS-Beery VMI score was a significant predictor of the ETCH-M word legibility scores (Adjusted R2 = 0.305; p = 0.001). Conclusion Findings indicate that the CASS-Beery VMI can be used to assess children’s VMI skills. The significant correlations between the CASS-Beery VMI and other standardized handwriting assessments (MHA, ETCH-M and HHIW) adds to the body of convergent validity evidence that the CASS-Beery VMI can be a sensitive scoring method for Beery VMI when assessing children’s handwriting performance.

Adaptation française et propriétés psychométriques de l’échelle d’utilisabilité perçue des sites web « Design-oriented evaluation of perceived usability (DEEP) »

IntroductionWith the ubiquitous and often unavoidable use of websites, it is necessary that they present the best possible usability to satisfy users. The Design-Oriented Evaluation of Perceived Usability (DEEP) questionnaire, comprising 19 items, assesses perceived usability on the basis of six genotypic criteria: content, structure and information architecture, navigation, cognitive effort, layout consistency, and visual guidance. After completing the DEEP, designers are then able to identify the main factors of the website that cause problems. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to propose a cross-cultural adaptation of the DEEP in French and to evaluate its psychometric qualities. MethodFour hundred and seventy users completed an online survey to give their opinion on the Onisep.fr website. The survey included the French translation of the DEEP (F-DEEP) and the Net Promoter Score questionnaire. A principal component analysis (PCA) with oblimin rotation, an internal consistency analysis, several confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and a convergent validity study between the F-DEEP and the NPS were conducted. ResultsThe PCA suggests a 6-factor structure, which partly corresponds to the 6 factors of the original questionnaire. The internal consistency is very satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.944 and a McDonalds omega of 0.945. The CFA with the most satisfactory fit indices corresponds to the first-order model including the 6 factors of the F-DEEP. All the correlations calculated between the F-DEEP factors and the NPS are positive and highly significant. ConclusionThe F-DEEP has very good psychometric qualities, which means that it can be used by researchers and professionals in the field of ergonomic psychology of human-computer interaction to evaluate websites for French-speaking audiences. This questionnaire can also be applied to the evaluation of the usability of mobile applications.

The Humor Styles Questionnaire: a critique of scale construct validity and recommendations regarding individual differences in style profiles

Abstract This paper examines the construct validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) – that is, whether scores on the scale adequately reflect adaptive or maladaptive humor use which is causally related to psychosocial well-being, and considers how research on distinct groups of people defined in terms of their style profiles can clarify the nature of the styles. A number of concerns about scale content are raised, including that coverage of relevant issues and wording of some scale items are problematic; rating scales used to assess humor use require revision; the extent of influence of non-humor components of the items is unclear; and the items associated with any style do not accurately indicate its motivation. Findings concerning style profiles indicate the same style can perform different functions for different people (relationship/stimulation seeking, or self-defense) and also differ from those typically observed in studies of HSQ convergent, divergent, and criterion validity. Further research should take into account the methodological issues discussed and focus on the style profiles and humor content and structure preferences of humor users and their audiences. Reasons to view the styles as predictive of but not causally related to psychosocial well-being are also provided.

School Nurse Confidence with Diabetes Devices in Relation to Diabetes Knowledge and Prior Training: A Study of Convergent Validity.

The Diabetes Device Confidence Scale (DDCS) is a new scale designed to evaluate school nurse confidence with diabetes devices. We hypothesized that DDCS score would be associated with related constructs of school nurse diabetes knowledge, experience, and training. In a cross-sectional study, we co-administered the DDCS and Diabetes Knowledge Test 2 (DKT2) questionnaires to school nurses in Pennsylvania. We summarized DDCS scores (range 1-5) descriptively. We evaluated the relationship between DKT2 percent score and DDCS mean score with the Spearman correlation coefficient. Simple linear regression examined school nurse characteristics as predictors of DDCS score. A total of 271 completed surveys were received. Mean DDCS score was 3.16±0.94, indicating moderate confidence with devices overall. School nurses frequently reported low confidence in items representing specific skills, including suspending insulin delivery (40%), giving a manual bolus (42%), knowing when to calibrate a continuous glucose monitor (48%), changing an insulin pump site (54%), and setting a temporary basal rate (58%). Mean DKT2 score was 89.5±0.1%, which was weakly but not significantly correlated with DDCS score (r=0.12, p=0.06). Formal device training (p<0.001), assisting ≥5 students with diabetes devices in the past 5 years (p<0.01), and a student caseload between 1000-1500 students (p<0.001) were associated with higher mean DDCS score. DDCS score is related to prior training and experience, providing evidence for the scale's convergent validity. The DDCS may be a useful tool for assessing school nurse readiness to use devices and identify areas to enhance knowledge and practical skills.

Development and Validation of the Marginalized-Group-Focused Diversity Climate Scale: Group Differences and Outcomes

In this research, we created and tested the validity of a Marginalized-Group-Focused Diversity Climate Scale (MGF-DCS) following Hinkin’s (1998) best practices. Previously, no measure of diversity climate has been validated. Furthermore, addressing challenges concerning the basis of diversity climate perceptions, we reviewed disparate diversity climate definitions and scales to identify its core components and sources, focusing on the treatment of organizational members who identify as marginalized group members. Using full-time employee samples (N = 1639), tests of content validity (study 1), exploratory factor analysis (study 2), confirmatory factor analysis (study 3), convergent and discriminant validity (study 4), and criterion validity (study 5) were conducted. Results suggest that the MGF-DCS comprises three subscales: (1) interpersonal valuing of marginalized groups; (2) organizational representation and inclusion of marginalized groups; and (3) organizational anti-discrimination. Furthermore, the MGF-DCS exhibited measurement invariance across marginalized group identification. In study 5, using the MGF-DCS, we tested how perceptions of diversity climate predict organizational and personal outcomes, as moderated by participants’ marginalized group identification. In general, the more participants perceived their workplaces to have a positive diversity climate, the better they saw social dynamics in their workplace (e.g. higher cohesion) and the better their personal outcomes (e.g. lower job stress); in some cases, these benefits were stronger for employees identifying as marginalized group members (e.g. less experienced discrimination). Thus, the MGF-DCS provides a reliable and valid assessment of diversity climate in organizations that can be used to advance theory, research, and diversity management practice.

Psycholinguistic, Stroop, and self-report measurements of death anxiety: A study of convergent validity

Death anxiety is commonly assessed using self-report surveys, but practitioners and researchers have recently established the need for implicit measures. However, many implicit measures lack sufficient evidence to support their construct validity. We examined two innovative implicit death anxiety measures (linguistic analysis and a Stroop paradigm) alongside a traditional self-report death anxiety survey battery. The linguistic analysis of death-related writing was supported by concurrent validity among death anxiety measures. We conclude that linguistic analyses of death-related writing may be a valid, viable, implicit measure of death anxiety which may be useful to both researchers and clinicians.

A motivational approach to perfectionism and striving for excellence: Development of a new continuum-based scale for post-secondary students.

Perfectionism has been the object of many disputes. One such debate pertains to the nature of perfectionistic strivings. Whereas perfectionistic concerns (PC) have been shown to correlate with negative outcomes, perfectionistic strivings (PS) have been associated with mixed outcomes. This view of perfectionism assumes a motivational perspective; however, commonly used questionnaires assess motivation only implicitly. To create a more explicit measure of motivation as regard perfectionism, we aimed to assess perfectionism in post-secondary education based on Deci and Ryan's self-determination continuum. We posit that introjected motivation represents the variance common to both dimensions of perfectionism. External motivation is considered to be specific to PC and identified motivation to PS. Amotivation represents a lack of meaningful striving. Intrinsic motivation, lacking perfectionism's pressure, is conceptualized to be a self-determined form of striving for excellence. We further posited that this continuum is implicitly underlain by a continuum of self-definition as defined by Blatt. The resulting questionnaire showed an adequate structure with ESEM, followed a simplex structure, and had adequate reliabilities (Study 1a/Study 2). It also showed adequate convergent validity (Study 1b/Study 2). Finally, the questionnaire proved to be invariant over a 6-week period (Study 2). Results suggest that the degree of active goal pursuit, in addition to standards setting, could be a distinguishing characteristic between dimensions of perfectionism as well as striving for excellence.

Reliability and Convergent Validity of Digital Photography in Assessing Postural Orientation of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Methodological Study

Background: This study aimed to assess the test-retest intra-rater reliability and convergent validity of digital photography (DP) in detecting the postural orientation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: The study recruited children with various types of CP with the Gross Motor Function Classification System level I or II and spasticity &lt; 2 on the Ashworth Scale, without any visual or cognitive impairments. Children who had undergone any surgical intervention or received a botulinum toxin injection within the previous six months were excluded. A digital camera was fixed at 1.5 meters from the participants at the height of 90 cm. Non-reflective markers were attached to eight anatomical landmarks to localize the upper and lower center of mass on both sides. The same examiner took three digital photos to detect intra-rater reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis were used to assess the convergent validity of the DP method compared with the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) scores. Results: Thirty children (7.44 ± 2.38 years) were assessed to test the reliability of DP, and 55 others (8.06 ± 2.19 years) participated in the convergent validity study. Intra-rater reliability was found to be perfect (ICC &gt; 0.995) and there was a strong significant negative correlation between DP measures and PBS scores (Pearson's correlation &gt; 0.75) with high adjusted R2 (R2 &gt; 0.567), indicating goodness of fit between the measures. Conclusions: Digital photography (DP) is a reliable and valid method for assessing postural orientation in children with various types of CP.