Superordinate Construct Research Articles

Construing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Qualitative Study

The COVID-19 pandemic and measures used to contain it have had a significant psychosocial impact. This paper reports a study of its psychological effects in 108 UK residents who completed an online survey between the first and second waves of the pandemic asking them to describe the main difficulties that they experienced and how they coped with these, what they had learnt from the pandemic, and their anticipations of a post-pandemic future. Deductive thematic content analysis of the results in terms of diagnostic constructs of personal construct psychology identified overarching themes of transitions, with themes of anxiety, threat, loss of role, sadness, contempt, and stress; strategies, with themes of constriction, hostility, and individual coping strategies; reconstruction, including revision of superordinate constructs, revision of subordinate constructs, and no reconstruction; and anticipations, with themes of recovery of certainty and structure, constriction, dilation, aggression, and no anticipation. Two contrasting patterns were observed, one characterized by failure to reconstrue, hostility, and/or constriction, and the other by revision of superordinate constructs, dilation, and/or aggression.

Definitions and assessments of physical literacy among children and youth: a scoping review

BackgroundDespite the recognised health benefits of physical activity, the physical activity levels of children and adolescents continue to decline. The concept of physical literacy (PL) is a promising holistic approach to physical activity promotion that addresses affective and cognitive domains in addition to physical and motor domains. In Germany, however, no uniform or widely used method exists for assessing PL in children. This research was conducted to compile information on international PL assessment systems for children and adolescents (up to 18 years of age), including their underlying definitions, structural designs and development processes, for the purpose of developing such a tool in Germany.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus database entries. The initial search was conducted in July 2022, with a follow-up search performed in May 2023. Articles that operationalised the construct of PL and at least two of the three domains were identified and included. The procedure and assessment tools used to evaluate the individual domains and the overall PL construct were extracted from all selected articles.ResultsA total of 882 articles were identified; five were added after a manual search. After duplicates were removed, 563 articles were screened by title and abstract, and 40 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. In a review of these articles, 23 different assessment procedures were identified. Eight assessment procedures included PL as a superordinate construct. Twenty-two of the 23 procedures assessed the affective and physical domains, only 14 assessed the cognitive domain.ConclusionApproximately half of the identified PL assessment systems addressed all three domains. Motor performance was most frequently integrated into the test procedures. Future developments in Germany should integrate all domains in the assessment to produce a holistic conceptualisation as the basis for appropriate funding.

Measuring reading behavior in large-scale assessments and surveys.

Large amounts of studies have shown that reading behavior is an important aspect for the development of students' reading skills. The construct reading behavior as examined in large-scale assessments and surveys within the field of empirical educational research is operationalized through a wide range of reading and reading-related aspects (e.g., reading time, reading frequency, print exposure, reading engagement, book genre preferences, knowledge of authors or book titles) and a broad array of measurement methods are used. The approaches to measure the same variable - namely reading behavior - differ fundamentally from each other, while at the same time, a clear concept that would help to classify the used measurement instruments and to interpret them in relation to the superordinate construct of reading behavior is missing. Therefore, the present article aims to give an overview of methods to measure reading behavior within the context of large-scale assessments and surveys, and to discuss how they were implemented. Finally, we make some suggestions on how it might be possible to relate the applied measurement approaches to each other, especially in terms of their content and theoretical relationship to the overarching construct of reading behavior.

Developing and validating a scale of host territoriality in peer-to-peer accommodation

The idea of human territoriality is highly relevant to home-sharing services, which involve the sharing of private space under the sphere of business. To assist examinations of human territoriality in home-sharing contexts, this paper attempted to develop and validate a scale of host territoriality from the perspective of P2P accommodation guests. Four studies with diverse data sources were conducted. The final scale had four dimensions (i.e., accessibility, house rules, signs of ownership, and intrusion) and 18 items. Results of known-group comparisons and a variety of criterion validity tests demonstrated good construct validity. Host territoriality, specified as a superordinate construct, was found to negatively affect guests’ experience satisfaction and intentions to reuse or recommend P2P accommodation rentals. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed based on the findings.

Primacy of affects in human development: Discussion of Otto F. Kernberg’s “Some Implications of New Developments in Neurobiology for Psychoanalytic Object Relations Theory”

ABSTRACT In this commentary of Dr. Kernberg's important paper I highlight the importance of affects as motivators, particularly the SEEKING system. I question the utility of Libido and Aggression as the two superordinate constructs. And, I suggest incorporating defensive operations and defense mechanisms.

Global Variation in Subjective Well-Being Predicts Seven Forms of Altruism

The geographic prevalence of various altruistic behaviors (nonreciprocal acts that improve other people’s welfare) is not uniformly distributed, but whether this reflects variation in a superordinate construct linked to national-level outcomes or cultural values is unknown. We compiled data on seven altruistic behaviors across 48 to 152 nations and found evidence that these behaviors reflect a latent construct positively associated with national-level subjective well-being (SWB) and individualist values, even when we controlled for national-level wealth, health, education, and shared cultural history. Consistent with prior work, our results showed that SWB mediated the relationship between two objective measures of well-being (wealth and health) and altruism (n = 130). Moreover, these indirect effects increased as individualist values increased within the subset of countries (n = 90) with available data. Together, our results indicate that altruism increases when resources and cultural values provide objective and subjective means for pursuing personally meaningful goals and that altruistic behaviors may be enhanced by societal changes that promote well-being.

Construing Non-White and White Clients: Mental Health Practitioners’ Superordinate Constructs Related to Whiteness and Non-Whiteness in Australia

Acceptance and inclusion of diversity is challenged by the prevailing sociopolitical and ethnocultural framework of Whiteness in Australia. To examine the impact of Whiteness on practitioner construct systems, mental health practitioners’ constructions and preference for non-White and White people, as well as frameworks of Whiteness and non-Whiteness, were explored. Twenty White and non-White mental health practitioners and trainees were purposively sampled and interviewed using an adapted version of the laddering interview technique. Data was analyzed thematically and interpreted using Personal Construct Theory—the theoretical framework that informed the study. The findings reiterate those found in research literature which highlights the persistent role of Whiteness on constructs of non-Whiteness, as well as on White and non-White people. The results suggest that a potential shift has occurred in the discourse on constructions of White and non-White people amongst mental health practitioners. This shift may be the movement away from being blind to difference and acknowledgement of the inequities and inequalities experienced by diverse groups. The implications of such a shift allow both White and non-White people increased opportunities for access to and engagement with supports aimed at improving psychological wellbeing.

Unprecedented Times for Many But Not for All: Personal Construct Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic

Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are considered in terms of personal construct theory, including the diagnostic constructs proposed by George Kelly. The pandemic is seen to have caused transitions in people’s construing, experienced, for example, as anxiety, threat, guilt, and shame; and strategies to cope with it have included constriction and hostility. The reactions both of individuals and of governments differ, reflecting the individuality of construing, and can be usefully viewed in terms of personal construct perspectives on choice and decision-making. Losses resulting from the pandemic may be dealt with by a process of meaning reconstruction, and alternative constructions of it may usefully include consideration of positive changes that it has brought about, including reevaluation of the superordinate constructs of individuals and societies.

Seeing brands as humans: Development and validation of a brand anthropomorphism scale

Brand anthropomorphism is recognised as an important construct in marketing, yet it lacks clarity in operationalisation and valid measurement. The objective of this research, therefore, is to develop and validate the brand anthropomorphism scale (BASC). Brand anthropomorphism is defined as the perception of brand as an entity that has analogical human-like features, mental and emotional states that people believe to be distinctively human. It is conceptualised as a multidimensional superordinate construct. Across six studies (N = 1666), this research develops a valid and reliable measure of brand anthropomorphism that has psychometric properties for convergent, discriminant and predictive validity. The results indicate that brand anthropomorphism is a valid predictor of outcomes such as brand trust and brand commitment. Finally, in support of incremental validity, it is identified that the BASC explains variance in brand trust and brand commitment above and beyond the measure of brand anthropomorphism commonly employed in the literature. Theoretical implications for research and implications for practice are also discussed.

Validation of the Japanese Version of the Multidimensional Measure of Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSB-J).

ObjectiveThe aim of the current study was to validate the Japanese version of the family supportive supervisor behaviors (FSSB-J) measure. FSSB is conceptualized as a multidimensional, superordinate construct constituted of four dimensions: emotional support, instrumental support, role modeling behaviors, and creative work–family management.MethodsThe Japanese translated and back-translated FSSB-J questionnaire was administered to 1,670 men and women aged 20–59 years who were registered with a Japanese online survey company in November 2017. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to evaluate the factorial validity of the FSSB-J. Cross-time measurement invariance was tested using multi-group confirmatory factor analyses. Construct validity was assessed with the potential consequences of FSSB (e.g., work–family spillover, work engagement, intention to leave, job satisfaction, and psychological distress) and convergent validity was assessed using similar concepts (e.g., organizational justice and social support). Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were examined to evaluate the reliability of the four dimensions of the FSSB.ResultsA series of confirmatory factor analyses using the multiple-group method revealed that the four-factor model fitted the data best. The latent factor structure demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across time. Construct and convergent validity were generally in line with expectations. Cronbach’s α coefficient and test–retest reliability were sufficient for each of the four dimensions of the FSSB.ConclusionThis study suggests that FSSB-J is an adequate measure of FSSB in the Japanese context.

Deriving an overall appearance domain score by applying bifactor IRT analysis to the BODY-Q appearance scales

PurposeWith the BODY-Q, one can assess outcomes, such as satisfaction with appearance, in weight loss and body contouring patients using multiple scales. All scales can be used independently in any given combination or order. Currently, the BODY-Q cannot provide overall appearance scores across scales that measure a similar super-ordinate construct (i.e., overall appearance), which could improve the scales’ usefulness as a benchmarking tool and improve the comprehensibility of patient feedback. We explored the possibility of establishing overall appearance scores, by applying a bifactor model to the BODY-Q appearance scales.MethodsIn a bifactor model, questionnaire items load onto both a primary specific factors and a general factor, such as satisfaction with appearance. The international BODY-Q validation patient sample (n = 734) was used to fit a bifactor model to the appearance domain. Factor loadings, fit indices, and correlation between bifactor appearance domain and satisfaction with body scale were assessed.ResultsAll items loaded on the general factor of their corresponding domain. In the appearance domain, all items demonstrated adequate item fit to the model. All scales had satisfactory fit to the bifactor model (RMSEA 0.045, CFI 0.969, and TLI 0.964). The correlation between the appearance domain summary scores and satisfaction with body scale scores was found to be 0.77.DiscussionWe successfully applied a bifactor model to BODY-Q data with good item and model fit indices. With this method, we were able to produce reliable overall appearance scores which may improve the interpretability of the BODY-Q while increasing flexibility.

A Study of Practitioner–Service User Relationships in Social Work

This paper reports on findings from a qualitative study of practitioner–service user relationships in social work. The research aimed to identify social workers’ personal constructs of their relationships with service users and explore how these constructs differed across roles and settings. A qualitative methodology employing a variation on role repertory grid techniques was used to carry out semi-structured interviews with social workers. Twenty-five social workers from seven different practice settings were interviewed and altogether identified over 200 personal constructs. The research team undertook a thematic analysis of these constructs along with their explanation and discussion in interview transcripts. The results identified twenty-five superordinate constructs within ten core themes, which reflected practitioners’ experience of relationships, their systemic context, along with dynamics of power and collaboration. The constructs were often found to contrast a positive or preferred attribute of relationships with a more negative or challenging attribute, although the reality of relationships was often found to be complex and ambiguous. Some implications are explored for current theories of relationship-based practice in social work.

28.2 DISORDERS OF THE EMBODIED SELF IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: AT THE CROSSROAD BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

BackgroundBasic disorders of the embodied self (BDES) encompass a cloud of related clinical constructs (e.g. cenesthesias, distortions of somato-psychic unity, anomalous bodily experiences in a broad sense) that are immanently related to a profound transformation of subjectivity and with the developmental modulation of bodily awareness. They have been historically ascribed a potential role in the emergence of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, the clinical-phenomenological level of description has been only marginally integrated with novel insights from developmental psychopathology and neurosciences. ​MethodsWe conducted a conceptual literature review based on clinical analysis and heuristic synthesis.ResultsDespite often occurring in prodromal/clinical at-risk states, as well as in full blown schizophrenia spectrum conditions (where BDES play a pivotal psychopathogenetic role in the genesis of productive symptoms), they are relatively neglected both in research and in routine clinical examination. Furthermore, BDES also discriminate non help-seeking genetic high risk subjects from normal controls.DiscussionWithin the superordinate construct of Self-disorders, BDES are a potentially relevant dimensional phenotype for the characterization of broad Schizophrenia Spectrum vulnerability. Their contextualization within a developmental and neurophysiological perspective could further amplify their value for etio-pathogenetic research. ​

Toxic Affect: Are Anger, Anxiety, and Depression Independent Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease?

Three negative affective dispositions—anger, anxiety, and depression—are hypothesized to increase physical disease risk and have been the subject of epidemiological studies. However, the overlap among the major negative affective dispositions, and the superordinate construct of trait negative affectivity (NA) are only beginning to be tested. Presented here is a narrative review of recent prospective studies that simultaneously tested anger, anxiety, depression, and trait NA as risk factors for cardiac outcomes. Anxiety and depression emerged as independent risk factors for premature heart disease in population studies of persons nominally healthy at baseline, and for recurrence/mortality among patients with existing heart disease. General trait NA also was a cardiac risk factor in population samples.

Disentangling Gratitude: A Theoretical and Psychometric Examination of the Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test–Revised Short (GRAT–RS)

ABSTRACTThis study extended our theoretical and applied understanding of gratitude through a psychometric examination of the most popular multidimensional measure of gratitude, the Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test–Revised Short form (GRAT–RS). Namely, the dimensionality of the GRAT–RS, the model-based reliability of the GRAT–RS total score and 3 subscale scores, and the incremental evidence of validity for its latent factors were assessed. Dimensionality measures (e.g., explained common variance) and confirmatory factor analysis results with 426 community adults indicated that the GRAT–RS conformed to a multidimensional (bifactor) structure. Model-based reliability measures (e.g., omega hierarchical) provided support for the future use of the Lack of a Sense of Deprivation raw subscale score, but not for the raw GRAT–RS total score, Simple Appreciation subscale score, or Appreciation of Others subscale score. Structural equation modeling results indicated that only the general gratitude factor and the lack of a sense of deprivation specific factor accounted for significant variance in life satisfaction, positive affect, and distress. These findings support the 3 pillars of gratitude conceptualization of gratitude over competing conceptualizations, the position that the specific forms of gratitude are theoretically distinct, and the argument that appreciation is distinct from the superordinate construct of gratitude.

When members of entrepreneurial teams differ: linking diversity in individual-level entrepreneurial orientation to team performance

While prior research has focused on differences in entrepreneurial orientation between organizations, we direct attention to differences in entrepreneurial orientation within organizations. We propose that individual members in entrepreneurial teams may differ in their dispositions to act in entrepreneurial ways, that is, in their individual entrepreneurial orientation (iEO) and that these differences have meaningful implications for team performance. Drawing upon research in team diversity and entrepreneurial orientation, we argue that the three iEO diversity dimensions—proactiveness, risk taking, and innovativeness diversity—affect team outcomes in different ways, although they belong to the same diversity type and even belong to a common superordinate construct. Empirical data gathered in 104 dyadic entrepreneurial teams supports our theory: Diversity in proactiveness within a team impairs team performance. Risk-taking diversity also harms team performance by heightening relationship conflict. However, innovativeness diversity facilitates team performance. The present study contributes to two streams of research, namely, entrepreneurial team research and research on entrepreneurial orientation and is of practical significance to entrepreneurial team formation and performance.

Modeling Hierarchical Relationships in Hinkle's Implications Grid Data

There have been few attempts to devise suitable methods of analysis for the implications grid devised by Hinkle (1965). As Hinkle noted (Hinkle, 1965, p. 63), there are three implications needed to define a hierarchical relationship (A → B, B → C, and A → C). Hinkle did not attempt to test this requirement, as neither did the only other published use of the technique (Fransella, 1972). Subsequently, Caputi, Breiger, and Pattison (1990) published a technique that explicitly sought to model implications data with respect to this requirement. In this study we use this technique to both (a) evaluate some of the choice points in the technique using data from the 28 implications grids collected by Hinkle and published as an appendix to his thesis, and (b) subsequently analyze this data to examine the hierarchical relationships as defined above. Our evaluation of the choice points showed that the joint modification approach worked best and that there was a clear cut-off to most fully represent the relationships in the raw data. Our analysis via the modeling approach found that there was no difference between the mean number of transitive superordinate constructs implied by subordinate constructs and the mean number of transitive subordinate constructs implied by superordinate constructs in the modeled data, suggesting that the laddered constructs in this study were not necessarily superordinate to the generating constructs.

The Dark Tetrad

Abstract. Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy are personality traits understood to be dispositions toward amoral and antisocial behavior. Recent research has suggested that sadism should also be added to this set of traits. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis proposing that these four traits are expressions of one superordinate construct: The Dark Tetrad. Exploration of the latent space of four “dark” traits suggested that the singular second-order factor which represents the Dark Tetrad can be extracted. Analysis has shown that Dark Tetrad traits can be located in the space of basic personality traits, especially on the negative pole of the Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotionality dimensions. We conclude that sadism behaves in a similar manner as the other dark traits, but it cannot be reduced to them. The results support the concept of “Dark Tetrad.”

Development of a Multidimensional Instrument of Person-Environment Fit: The Perceived Person-Environment Fit Scale (PPEFS)

This research identifies four challenges in the field of person–environment fit (PE fit): the multidimensionality of PE fit, the integration of fit theories, the simultaneous effects of the multiple dimensions, and the function of the dimensions. To address those challenges, we develop a theory-driven and systematically validated multidimensional instrument, the Perceived Person–Environment Fit Scale (PPEFS), consisting of four measures: the Person–Job Fit Scale (PJFS), the Person–Organisation Fit Scale (POFS), the Person–Group Fit Scale (PGFS), and the Person–Supervisor Fit Scale (PSFS). Data are collected from 532 employees and 122 managers for two independent studies with multiple rater sources and multiple time points. A series of validation analyses and hypothesis tests reveals that the PPEFS measures have good psychometric properties (i.e. reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity) and exhibit incremental validity above and beyond Cable and DeRue's (2002) fit measures. Furthermore, the measures are reflected by a superordinate (vs. aggregate) construct of PE fit. Overall, the four different types of fit significantly predict in-role behavior, job satisfaction, intent to quit, and organisational citizenship behavior (OCB), each explaining the greatest amount of variance in different outcomes. The PPEFS should prove useful in future research regarding PE fit.

The Mismeasure of Psychopathy: A Commentary on Boddy’s PM-MRV

Boddy and his colleagues have published several articles on “corporate psychopathy” using what they refer to as a Psychopathy Measure—Management Research Version (PM-MRV). They based this measure on the items that comprise the Interpersonal and Affective dimensions (Factor 1) of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), a widely used copyrighted and controlled instrument. The PM-MRV not only misspecifies the construct of psychopathy, but also serves as an example of the problems associated with an attempt to form a “new” scale by adapting items from a proprietary scale. The PCL-R measures a superordinate construct underpinned by four correlated dimensions or first-order factors, not just the two in the PM-MRV. The other two dimensions are Lifestyle and Antisocial, which together form Factor 2 of the PCL-R. As defined by the PCL-R, psychopathy requires high scores on both Factor 1 and Factor 2. Lack of validity aside, even if the PM-MRV were to be a useful measure of Factor 1, it would not discriminate between psychopathy and other “dark personalities,” such as Machiavellianism and narcissism, which, along with psychopathy, form the Dark Triad. This lack of discrimination stems from the fact that each of these personalities shares features measured by Factor 1 and, by implication, by the PM-MRV. Research findings based on the PM-MRV may have some meaning with respect to dark personalities in general, but their relevance to psychopathy, as measured with the PCL-R, is tenuous at best.