Underlying Factor Structure Research Articles

Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

Background: The Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire (SREBQ) is an economical way of assessing an individual's self-regulatory abilities regarding eating behavior. Such scales are needed in the German population; therefore, the purpose of the present study was the translation and validation of a German version of the SREBQ.Method: First, we conducted a pilot study (Study 1; N = 371) after the translation procedure. Second, we assessed the final scale in a representative sample of the German population (Sample 2; N = 2,483) and its underlying factor structure. Further, we tested for measurement invariance and evaluated the SREBQ's associations with related scales to explore convergent and discriminant validity. Finally, we considered differences in SREBQ based on sociodemographic variables and provided derived reference scores (norm values).Results: Factor analysis revealed deficiencies in the original model. Thus, we shortened the scale based on statistical considerations and the adapted version showed improved fit in Confirmatory Factor Analysis and reliability. We also found evidence for partial strict invariance, which means the measure is equivalent for the tested groups of age and gender. Item and scale psychometric properties of the shortened version were satisfactory. In terms of diagnostic validity, it was shown that individuals with higher body mass index (kg/m2) have worse self-regulation of eating behavior than those with lower.Conclusion: In sum, the SREBQ evidenced good validity and reliability and is suitable for application in medical, psychological, and nutritional research.

The factor structure of the peer-feedback orientation scale (PFOS): toward a measure for assessing students’ peer-feedback dispositions

This study reports on the quantitative findings of an exploratory sequential mixed methods study in which the underlying factor structure of students’ peer-feedback orientation (i.e. openness to provide and receive peer-feedback) was investigated. Building on the qualitative findings of a previous study in which the ‘peer-feedback orientation’ concept was introduced, an online survey was developed to collect data among higher education students (N = 148). An exploratory factor analysis produced a five-factor solution including the dimensions: accountability, communicativeness, utility, self-efficacy and receptivity. The practical value of the results lies in having a measure of students’ peer-feedback orientation that provides teachers and researchers with an instrument for understanding students’ dispositions toward receiving and providing peer-feedback.

Psychometric validation of a pre-existing questionnaire used to measure patient satisfaction following orthodontic treatment in a UK population.

Objective:To determine the psychometric properties of a pre-existing orthodontic satisfaction questionnaire and to assess patient satisfaction of their orthodontic treatment.Design:Psychometric assessment of a pre-existing orthodontic satisfaction questionnaire.Setting:Two sites at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.Participants:Individuals aged 12–15 years who had completed fixed orthodontic treatment.Methods:An expert panel assessed a pre-existing orthodontic treatment satisfaction questionnaire for validity and readability. As a result, revisions were made to the questionnaire and it was distributed to 103 participants aged 12–15 years, on completion of their fixed orthodontic treatment (T1). Test–retest reliability of the questionnaire was assessed through completion of a second questionnaire by 17 participants, at a two-week interval (T2). The questionnaire was assessed for reliability using item-total correlations (I-TC) and Cronbach’s alpha. Factor analysis allowed exploration of the underlying factor structure of the questionnaire. Test–retest reliability was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Multiple regression analysis was used to find out the significant demographic variables that predicts the satisfaction level of treatment.Results:Following validity and readability assessment by the expert panel, the questionnaire was revised. Eleven items were removed following item analysis (with I-TC ⩽ 0.3). Factor analysis was deemed uninterpretable. The overall scale demonstrated greater reliability than the underlying sub-scales. Therefore, the sub-scales were removed, resulting in one scale which assessed overall orthodontic satisfaction, comprising 37 items, with a Cronbach alpha of 0.92. The test–retest reliability of the revised 37-item scale was deemed to be poor (kappa coefficient = 0.39). Multiple regression analysis identified ethnicity as a significant predictor of orthodontic treatment satisfaction (P = 0.01).Conclusion:This study provides a valid measure to assess orthodontic treatment satisfaction for use in a UK population aged 12–15 years on completion of fixed orthodontic treatment.

The Brain Injury Screening Tool (BIST): Tool development, factor structure and validity.

Currently health care pathways (the combination and order of services that a patient receives to manage their injury) following a mild traumatic brain injury vary considerably. Some clinicians lack confidence in injury recognition, management and knowing when to refer. A clinical expert group developed the Brain Injury Screening Tool (BIST) to provide guidance on health care pathways based on clinical indicators of poor recovery. The tool aims to facilitate access to specialist services (if required) to improve longer term prognosis. The tool was developed using a three-step process including: 1) domain mapping; 2) item development and 3) item testing and review. An online retrospective survey of 114 adults (>16 years) who had experienced a mild brain injury in the past 10 years was used to determine the initial psychometric properties of the 15-item symptom scale of the BIST. Participants were randomised to complete the BIST and one of two existing symptom scales; the Rivermead Post-concussion Symptom Questionnaire (RPQ) or the Sports Concussion Assessment Test (SCAT-5) symptom scale to determine concurrent validity. Participant responses to the BIST symptom scale items were used to determine scale reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. A principal components analysis explored the underlying factor structure. Spearman’s correlation coefficients determined concurrent validity with the RPQ and SCAT-5 symptom scales. The 15 items were found to require a reading age of 6–8 years old using readability statistics. High concurrent validity was shown against the RPQ (r = 0.91) and SCAT-5 (r = 0.90). The BIST total symptom scale (α = 0.94) and the three factors identified demonstrated excellent internal consistency: physical/emotional (α = 0.90), cognitive (α = 0.92) and vestibular-ocular (α = 0.80). This study provides evidence to support the utility, internal consistency, factor structure and concurrent validity of the BIST. Further research is warranted to determine the utility of the BIST scoring criteria and responsiveness to change in patients.

Corrective Feedback Preferences in Learning English as a Foreign Language: Providing a Validated and New Scale

The current study was an attempt to explore the underlying factor structures of the new TPCF questionnaire designed to determine EFL teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of corrective feedbacks (CFs). To this end, both male and female EFL teachers from private language institutes were conveniently selected to participate in the study. To come up with a suitable sample for construct validation (factor analysis), care was taken to select at least 125 participants (5 participants per item included in the final version of TPCF). Two research instruments were utilized in the current study including an interview and a newly designed questionnaire by the researcher. The findings revealed that underlying factor structures of the new TPCF included type of error & type of CF, time of feedback & teachers’ strategy, proficiency level & preplanning, perceived by learners, negative impression & gender difference, dominance, correction & CF enhancement. In addition, a new TPCF questionnaire was designed for EFL teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of corrective feedbacks. Eventually, the implications of the study are presented.

Validation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) in Spanish Pregnant Women.

Anxiety during pregnancy is one of the most common mental health problems and a significant risk factor for postpartum depression. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is one of the most widely used self-report measures of anxiety symptoms available in multiple languages. This study evaluates the psychometric properties and underlying factor structures of the Spanish GAD-7 among pregnant women in Spain. Spanish-speaking pregnant women (N = 385) were recruited from an urban obstetrics setting in Northern Spain. Women completed the GAD-7 and the anxiety subscale of the Symptom Checklist (SCL90-R) at three time points, once per trimester. The reliability, concurrent validity, and factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties and factor structure, respectively. In the first trimester, the GAD-7 demonstrated good internal consistency (a = 0.89). GAD-7 is positively correlated with SCL90-R (anxiety subscale; r=0.75; p < 0.001). The proposed one-factor structure is found using exploratory factor analysis -FACTOR program - with Unweighted Least Squares procedure and optimal implementation of parallel analysis (GFI = 0.99). Health providers should screen for anxiety using the GAD-7 during pregnancy among urban Spanish-speaking samples to provide appropriate follow-up care.

An investigation into the factor structure of the Cognitive Therapy Scale - Revised (CTS-R) in a CBT training sample.

Effective monitoring of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) competence depends on psychometrically robust assessment methods. While the UK Cognitive Therapy Scale - Revised (CTS-R; Blackburn et al., 2001) has become a widely used competence measure in CBT training, practice and research, its underlying factor structure has never been investigated. This study aimed to present the first investigation into the factor structure of the CTS-R based on a large sample of postgraduate CBT trainee recordings. Trainees (n = 382) provided 746 mid-treatment audio recordings for depression (n = 373) and anxiety (n = 373) cases scored on the CTS-R by expert markers. Tapes were split into two equal samples counterbalanced by diagnosis and with one tape per trainee. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted. The suggested factor structure and a widely used theoretical two-factor model were tested with confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement invariance was assessed by diagnostic group (depression versus anxiety). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a single-factor solution (98.68% explained variance), which was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. All 12 CTS-R items were found to contribute to this single factor. The univariate model demonstrated full metric invariance and partial scalar invariance by diagnosis, with one item (item 10 - Conceptual Integration) demonstrating scalar non-invariance. Findings indicate that the CTS-R is a robust homogenous measure and do not support division into the widely used theoretical generic versus CBT-specific competency subscales. Investigation into the CTS-R factor structure in other populations is warranted.

The Iowa Resistance to Sleeplessness Test (iREST)

IntroductionDespite considerable individual differences in the vulnerability vs resistance to effects of sleep loss, there is no practical self-report tool to predict these differences across domains and only limited evidence whether they are general or domain-specific. To address this need, we developed the Iowa Resistance to Sleeplessness Test (iREST). MethodsA construct-validation approach was employed. During the substantive phase, self-report items were generated to capture vulnerability vs resistance to sleep loss across various psycho-behavioral domains. During the structural phase, analyses identified the underlying factor structure and examined reliability of individual scale scores. Finally, the external phase used convergent and discriminant analyses to evaluate the factors in light of related sleep and personality measures, and tested criterion validity of the scale scores in predicting neurocognitive and affective responses to experimental sleep restriction (Total N = 1018). ResultsAnalyses yielded discriminant and reliable scale scores that reflected resistance across cognitive, affective, and somatic responses, while also marking a general resistance factor. Convergent and discriminant probes revealed moderate associations of scale scores with daytime sleepiness and sleep-related distress, but small to negligible associations with other measures of sleep behavior, perceptions, and personality. Critically, criterion analyses yielded validity evidence for predicting cognitive and affective impairments in response to experimental sleep loss. ConclusionScores on the iREST show validity in capturing cognitive and affective resistance to moderate sleep loss among young adults, supporting its further exploration as a practical tool for predicting behavior due to lost sleep.

The Motor Unawareness Assessment (MUNA): A new tool for the assessment of Anosognosia for hemiplegia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP) is a condition in which patients with paralysis are unaware of their motor deficits. Research into AHP is important for improving its treatment and providing insight into the neurocognitive mechanism of motor awareness. Unfortunately, most studies use assessments with widely recognized limitations. The study aims at developing a psychometrically validated assessment of AHP. Method: We developed a 40-item Motor Unawareness Assessment (MUNA) and administered it to 131 right-hemisphere stroke patients. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify the underlying factor structure. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine diagnostic cutoffs, and Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis used to assess these cutoffs. Relationships with demographic, clinical and neuropsychological variables were explored. Results: Five factors were identified: explicit motor awareness, implicit motor awareness, impaired sense of ownership, agency and illusory movement, and emotional reactions. Established cutoffs had excellent sensitivity and specificity. Clinical, neuropsychological and demographic variables did not predict overall MUNA score but were related to specific subcomponents. Conclusion: The MUNA can differentiate various facets of AHP and provides a detailed profile of (un)awareness. The MUNA can therefore provide robust assessment for research purposes and assist clinicians when developing targeted rehabilitation.

Feasible Implied Correlation Matrices from Factor Structures

Forward-looking correlations are of interest in different financial applications, including factor-based asset pricing, forecasting stock-price movements or pricing index options. With a focus on non-FX markets, this paper defines necessary conditions for option implied correlation matrices to be mathematically and economically feasible and argues that existing models are typically not capable of guaranteeing such. To overcome this difficulty, the problem is addressed from the underlying factor structure and introduces two approaches to solve it. Under the quantitative approach, the puzzle is reformulated into a nearest correlation matrix problem which can be used either as a stand-alone estimate or to re-establish positive-semi-definiteness of any other model’s estimate. From an economic approach, it is discussed how expected correlations between stocks and risk factors (like CAPM, Fama-French) can be translated into a feasible implied correlation matrix. Empirical experiments are carried out on monthly option data of the S&P 100 and S&P 500 index (1996-2020).

Translation and validation of the Chinese version of medical maximizer-minimizer scale: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveMedical overutilisation and underutilisation affect optimal healthcare. The Medical Maximizer-Minimizer Scale (MMS) was developed to assess individual medical maximising and minimising tendencies. Despite significant improvement in the healthcare system over...

Tourist relative importance of factors influencing tourism development in J&amp;K

National tourism policy of 2002 has identified seven key factors which plays a vital role in tourism development. Few researchers have confirmed the underlying factor structure of 7 key factors in determining the tourism development. Still this literature demands the support of results of relative importance in finding the contribution a particular factor makes in combination with other factors. So, the present study is an extension to the existing literature. An empirical study has been conducting in order to find out the perception of the tourists visiting Jammu & Kashmir by examining the relative importance of 7 key factors influencing the tourism development. The paper also highlights the key statements responsible for the tourism development and suggests measures to prioritize the influencing factors accordingly. Keywords: National tourism policy, Seven key factors, Relative importance, Index.

Toward a More Perfect Conceptualization of Perfectionism: An Exploratory Factor Analysis in Undergraduate College Students.

Previous investigations on the factor structure of perfectionism have largely focused on the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The current study aimed to identify the underlying factor structure of perfectionism, based on several widely used measures, and to examine how these factors related to psychopathology and personality broadly. College students (N = 598) completed several measures of perfectionism and broadband measures of psychopathology and personality. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was conducted to examine the hierarchical structure of perfectionism followed by exploratory factor analysis. The hierarchical structure examined provides a framework for understanding the relationship between models of perfectionism at different levels of the hierarchy. The exploratory factor analysis revealed five dimensions of perfectionism: Achievement Striving, Evaluative Concerns, Expectations From Others, Narcissistic Perfectionism, and Organization. These dimensions were associated with psychopathology to differing degrees and were differentially related to personality. These results support using a multidimensional perspective to understand perfectionism.

An examination of validity and reliability of the Parental Stress Scale in a population based sample of Norwegian parents.

The parental stress scale (PSS) is a widely used instrument that assesses stress related to child rearing. Even though several studies have investigated the construct validity and reliability of the PSS, no consensus has been reached regarding which and how many of the original eighteen items that should be included, or a robust factor structure with satisfactory reliability. The present study tested the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the PSS and used the advantages of complementary exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to investigate the underlying factor structure of the PSS items. Data stem from a community sample of 1096 parents from five counties in Norway with a one-year-old child. The sample was randomly split (N = 553/543), and exploratory and confirmatory analyses were performed on each of the samples. Using predefined criteria for the selection of robust items, results revealed a two-dimensional structure (Parental stressors and Lack of rewards) across 13 PSS items, displaying satisfactory reliability. Network analyses revealed differential associations within item constellations and with covariates. Implications of the findings and study limitations are discussed.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5‐minute protocol is accurate in screening for mild cognitive impairment in the rural African population

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of dementia in Tanzania, as in other developing countries is progressively increasing.1 Yet the screening instruments for the pre‐clinical stage of the diseases are lacking. This study examined the diagnostic accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment‐5‐minutes protocol (MoCA‐5‐min) among older adult in the rural Tanzania.MethodsAfter cultural adaptation following Brislin’s approach,2 the MoCA‐5‐min and the IDEA cognitive screening were concurrently administered to community‐dwelling older adults (n=202) in Chamwino district and 40 re‐evaluated at 6 weeks. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal component method and oblique rotation was performed to determine the underlying factor structure of the scale. The concurrent and the diagnostic accuracy of the MoCA‐5‐min were examined by comparing its score with IDEA cognitive screening and the psychiatrist’s diagnosis using DSM‐V criteria respectively.ResultsThe EFA found that all the MoCA‐5‐min items highly loaded into one component, with factor loading ranging from 0.550 to 0.879. The intraclass correlation coefficient for 6 weeks test‐retest reliability was 0.85. Its strong significant correlation with the IDEA screening (Pearson's r = 0.614, p &lt; 0.001) demonstrated a good concurrent validity. Using the psychiatrist’s rating as a gold standard, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.861, (95% CI = 0.799 – 0.922) (Figure 1). With the optimal cut‐off score for MCI at 22, the sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 74%. As for dementia, at a score of 16 the sensitivity was 90% and specificity was 80%, whereas the AUC was 0.910, (95%CI = 0.852 – 0.967) (Figure 2). Upon stratifying the sample into different age groups, the optimal cut‐off scores tended to decrease with the increase in age (Table 1).ConclusionThe MoCA‐5‐min is reliable and provides a valid and accurate measure of cognitive decline among older population in the rural settings of Tanzania. The use of varying cut‐off scores across age groups may ensure a more precise discriminatory power of the MoCA‐5‐min.

Zarit burden interview among caregivers of community-dwelling older adults in a caribbean setting (Jamaica): Reliability and factor structure.

The Zarit Burden Interview has been the most popularly used tool for measuring caregiver burden and with the 60years and over population in Jamaica and developing countries expected to increase, caregiver burden and its assessment assume increased importance. Establishing the reliability and underlying factor structure of instruments such as the ZBI is critical. This study sought to determine the reliability of the Zarit Burden Interview and to assess its underlying factor structure. The ZBI was administered to 180 caregivers of community dwelling older persons in Jamaica in a nationally representative sample across four geographic health regions in 2016. The factor structure was identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency/reliability of the instrument. The internal consistency/reliability of the ZBI instrument was high (Cronbach's α=0.859) and the corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.134 to 0.730. The ZBI mean score was found to be 16.92±12.04. EFA produced a six-factor model comprised of 19 items which explained 48.97% of total variance, and was subsequently reduced to four (37.27% of total variance) via the use of parallel analysis and scrutiny of confidence intervals. The four factors identified were 'personal strain', 'social relations disruption', 'resource strain/imbalance' and 'role intensity'. The ZBI-22 tool is a reliable instrument for evaluating caregiver burden among community dwelling older persons in Jamaica. A four factor model has emerged providing greater insights on the underlying constructs of the ZBI, the most widely used caregiver burden assessment tool.

The Child PTSD Symptom Scale: Psychometric Properties among Earthquake Survivors.

Evidence for a single underlying factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children remains elusive. We assessed the underlying factor structure of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale through exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in 570 survivors of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal. The EFA suggests that the three-factor DSM-IV model fit these data best. The CFA suggests that while the DSM-IV model adequately fit these data, the four-factor King model fit them better. There was no evidence of differential item functioning by age or gender, and internal consistency of the scale was high. PTSD (overall or by factor) was not correlated with functional impairment. Inconsistent psychometric results across contexts and methodologies suggest that our current theoretical conceptualizations and empirical models of posttraumatic stress are lacking. Future studies must both document the instrument properties to assure internal validity and cross-study comparisons and, bolstered by increased psychometric data and analyses, rework theoretical models of PTSD with improved cross-cultural validity.

The Development and Validation of a Scale Measuring Postgraduate School Application Self-Efficacy

This study introduces a new construct to the literature that may impact students’ entrance into postgraduate programs: postgraduate school application self-efficacy. Although previous scholars have explored the admissions processes for a variety of disciplines and have developed a measure for graduate education self-efficacy, no measure has been developed to assess postgraduate school application self-efficacy (PSASE). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a measure of 423 undergraduate students’ PSASE. Parallel analyses, exploratory factor analyses, and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the underlying factor structure of the PSASE scale. Reliability and correlational analyses were also conducted to assess convergent and discriminant validity. Results revealed a conceptually interpretable, 16-item, four-factor solution that accounted for 80.88% of the total variance. Correlational analyses with graduate education self-efficacy and self-esteem provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the PSASE subscales. Implications and future directions were explored.

The Sickness Behavior Inventory-Revised: Sickness behavior and its associations with depression and inflammation in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

Inflammation may contribute to the high prevalence of depressive symptoms seen in lung cancer. "Sickness behavior" is a cluster of symptoms induced by inflammation that are similar but distinct from depressive symptoms. The Sickness Behavior Inventory-Revised (SBI-R) was developed to measure sickness behavior. We hypothesized that the SBI-R would demonstrate adequate psychometric properties in association with inflammation. Participants with stage IV lung cancer (n = 92) were evaluated for sickness behavior using the SBI-R. Concomitant assessments were made of depression (Patient Hospital Questionniare-9, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Classical test theory (CTT) was applied and multivariate models were created to explain SBI-R associations with depression and inflammation. Factor Analysis was also used to identify the underlying factor structure of the hypothesized construct of sickness behavior. A longitudinal analysis was conducted for a subset of participants. The sample mean for the 12-item SBI-R was 8.3 (6.7) with a range from 0 to 33. The SBI-R demonstrated adequate internal consistency with a Cronbach's coefficient of 0.85, which did not increase by more than 0.01 with any single-item removal. This analysis examined factor loadings onto a single factor extracted using the principle components method. Eleven items had factor loadings that exceeded 0.40. SBI-R total scores were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and CRP (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that inflammation and depressive symptoms explained 67% of SBI-R variance. The SBI-R demonstrated adequate reliability and construct validity in this patient population with metastatic lung cancer. The observed findings suggest that the SBI-R can meaningfully capture the presence of sickness behavior and may facilitate a greater understanding of inflammatory depression.

Psychometric Properties of the Academic Intrinsic Motivation Scale in a High School Context

The Academic Intrinsic Motivation Scale (AIMS) measures key components of student intrinsic motivation (IM). We investigate score validity and reliability of a downward extension of the AIMS developed for students in the high school context using a sample of students from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Through classical test theory, this study documents the scale’s (1) item difficulty and discrimination, (2) underlying factor structure and score reliability via confirmatory factor analysis and omega coefficients, and (3) relationship with the theoretically related variables student retention, achievement, and teamwork ability. Findings support scoring, generalizability, and extrapolation inferences for the downward extension of the AIMS in a high school sample. Implications for additional psychometric validity evidence are discussed.