Variance In Criterion Variables Research Articles

Validation of the moral foundations questionnaire-2 in the Turkish context: exploring its relationship with moral behavior

Despite the considerable attention it has received, Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) remains open to criticisms regarding failure to conceptualize the moral domain. MFT was revised in response to these criticisms, along with its measurement tool, the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ-2). However, the validity of this revised theoretical structure and its explanatory power relative to existing alternatives, such as Morality as Cooperation Theory (MAC), has not yet been independently tested. Here we first validated MFT’s revised six-factor structure using the MFQ-2 in a large quasi-representative sample (N = 1099) from a predominantly Muslim country (i.e., Türkiye) and then explored the relationship of these six factors with incentivized measures of moral behavior as well as different psychological variables. Our tests revealed excellent fit values for the six-factor structure proposed by the MFQ-2, which explained more of the variance in criterion variables compared to the MAC Questionnaire (MAC-Q). However, MAC-Q performed better in predicting actual moral behavior (e.g., generosity and cooperation) compared with MFQ-2. Taken together, these findings indicate that, at least for the time being, MFQ-2 and the structure of the moral foundations proposed by MFT can be used to conceptualize the moral domain, but its relatively weak relationship to actual moral behavior limits its insights.

Employee time theft: Conceptualization, measure development, and validation

AbstractDespite its prevalence, high cost, and practical import, employee time theft has received scant research attention. To facilitate future scholarship on this important topic, the present research endeavors to clarify the conceptualization of time theft and advance understanding regarding the range of its behavioral manifestations, develop and validate an instrument to assess time theft, and provide preliminary insights into its nomological net. Results, gathered across nine samples of employees who are paid on an hourly wage scale, suggest that time theft is a multidimensional formative construct, is distinct from other deviant work behaviors (e.g., withdrawal, property theft), and is influenced by instrumental (e.g., pay satisfaction) and expressive motives (e.g., boredom). Finally, time theft explained incremental variance in criterion variables (e.g., receipt or enactment of interpersonal help) controlling for the effects of other discrete manifestations of deviance (e.g., withdrawal). Implications for future scholarship and managerial practice are discussed.

Examining the Factor Structure and Incremental Validity of the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale – Short Form in a Community Sample

The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale – Short Form (BDEFS-SF; Barkley, 2011) was developed to assess deficits in five facets of executive functioning. Theoretical assumptions surrounding the BDEFS-SF presume that executive dysfunction is an overarching construct that consists of five domain-specific factors (i.e., a hierarchical model; Barkley, 2011). Prior research has supported a correlated five-factor model, but the tenability of hierarchical or bifactor models of the BDEFS-SF have not yet been tested. In the present study (N = 1,120 community adults), confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare four theoretically relevant models of the BDEFS-SF (i.e., one-factor, correlated five-factor, hierarchical, and bifactor models). The bifactor model provided the best fit to the data. However, the general factor accounted for the overwhelming majority of variance in BDEFS-SF scores and none of the domain-specific factors exhibited adequate construct replicability or factor determinancy. Further, the general factor accounted for the overhelming majority of variance in criterion variables (i.e., executive attention and health anxiety); the Organization and Emotion factors accounted for a small amount of unique variance in executive attention and the Emotion factor accounted for a small amount of unique variance in health anxiety. Taken together, study findings suggest that the BDEFS-SF has a strong general factor and independent use of the domain-specific factors is contraindicated.

Adapting “Color Blindness” to South Korean Attitudes Toward Multicultural Minorities: Scale Development

Four studies were conducted to develop and validate the South Korean Attitudes Toward Multicultural Minorities Scale (SKAMMS). Exploratory factor analysis ( n = 336) identified three factors: Unawareness of South Korean Privilege and Discrimination against Multicultural Minorities, Attitudes Against Multiculturalism, and Attitudes Against Advocacy and Policy for Multicultural Minorities. Confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 537) provided cross-validation of the 16-item, three-factor model and identified that a three-factor bifactor model best fit the data. Correlational analyses provided evidence of the discriminant and convergent validities of the SKAMMS. Evidence of incremental validity of the SKAMMS was obtained ( n = 165), where the SKAMMS accounted for additional variance in criterion variables (i.e., cognitive, affective, and behavioral reactions toward racism) above other measures of attitudes toward multicultural minorities. The estimated 2-week test-retest reliabilities ( n = 53) ranged from .67 to .82. We discuss implications for the use of the SKAMMS for practice, advocacy, education/training, and research.

The Relationship Between the Enneagram Personality Types and Health Responsibility in Patients with Substance Use Disorder; a Brief Report

Objectives: The present study aimed at examining the relationship between the Enneagram personality types and health responsibility in patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on 68 patients with SUD referred to methadone maintenance treatment clinics in Kermanshah city, Western Iran, in September 2017. The Riso-Hudson Enneagram type indicator (RHETI) and subscale of health responsibility from the health promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP-II) were used for data gathering. The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean ± SD age of the samples (100% male) was 39.4 ± 13.3 years. The obtained results showed a significant direct relationship between personality types 1 and 3 and health responsibility, while the same relationship was indirect for the personality type 4 (P < 0.05). Despite the inability of the three personality types in predicting health responsibility, the model generally could explain 12.5% of the variance in criterion variable. Conclusions: Probably, screening the personality patterns of patients with SUD using the Enneagram model can be useful to identify vulnerable groups. Since SUD rehabilitation includes long-term formal nursing services, training should be focused on improved health responsibility among risk-taking personalities such as type 4.

"A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders": Correction to Chun et al. (2017).

Reports an error in "A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders" by Seokjoon Chun, Alexa Harris, Margely Carrion, Elizabeth Rojas, Stephen Stark, Carl Lejuez, William V. Lechner and Marina A. Bornovalova (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2017[Jan], Vol 126[1], 76-88). In the article, there were two errors in the article's supplemental material. The supplemental material stated, "In each case, if the relaxed model fit significantly better than the baseline model (i.e., ΔX²> 3.84, Δdf =2), then the item under investigation was flagged as noninvariant; otherwise the item was marked as invariant." The value for ΔX² should have been 5.99. The supplemental material also stated, "If there was no decrement in fit as a function of constraining a given item, the item in question was flagged as noninvariant." It should have stated that these items were flagged as invariant. The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-53090-001.) The comorbidity between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is well-established, and the 2 disorders share many similarities. However, there are also differences across disorders: most notably, BPD is diagnosed more frequently in women and ASPD in men. We investigated if (a) comorbidity between BPD and ASPD is attributable to 2 discrete disorders or the expression of common underlying processes, and (b) if the model of comorbidity is true across sex. Using a clinical sample of 1,400 drug users in residential substance abuse treatment, we tested 3 competing models to explore whether the comorbidity of ASPD and BPD should be represented by a single common factor, 2 correlated factors, or a bifactor structure involving a general and disorder-specific factors. Next, we tested whether our resulting model was meaningful by examining its relationship with criterion variables previously reported to be associated with BPD and ASPD. The bifactor model provided the best fit and was invariant across sex. Overall, the general factor of the bifactor model significantly accounted for a large percentage of the variance in criterion variables, whereas the BPD and AAB specific factors added little to the models. The association of the general and specific factor with all criterion variables was equal for men and women. Our results suggest common underlying vulnerability accounts for both the comorbidity between BPD and AAB (across sex), and this common vulnerability drives the association with other psychopathology and maladaptive behavior. This in turn has implications for diagnostic classification systems and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record

A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders.

The comorbidity between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is well-established, and the 2 disorders share many similarities. However, there are also differences across disorders: most notably, BPD is diagnosed more frequently in women and ASPD in men. We investigated if (a) comorbidity between BPD and ASPD is attributable to 2 discrete disorders or the expression of common underlying processes, and (b) if the model of comorbidity is true across sex. Using a clinical sample of 1,400 drug users in residential substance abuse treatment, we tested 3 competing models to explore whether the comorbidity of ASPD and BPD should be represented by a single common factor, 2 correlated factors, or a bifactor structure involving a general and disorder-specific factors. Next, we tested whether our resulting model was meaningful by examining its relationship with criterion variables previously reported to be associated with BPD and ASPD. The bifactor model provided the best fit and was invariant across sex. Overall, the general factor of the bifactor model significantly accounted for a large percentage of the variance in criterion variables, whereas the BPD and AAB specific factors added little to the models. The association of the general and specific factor with all criterion variables was equal for men and women. Our results suggest common underlying vulnerability accounts for both the comorbidity between BPD and AAB (across sex), and this common vulnerability drives the association with other psychopathology and maladaptive behavior. This in turn has implications for diagnostic classification systems and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record

Goal oriented and risk taking behavior: The roles of multiple systems for Caucasian and Arab-American adolescents

With Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological theory and other multifactor models (e.g. Pianta, 1999 ; Prinstein, Boergers, &amp; Spirito, 2001 ) underlying this study design, the purpose was to examine, simultaneously, key variables in multiple life contexts (microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem levels) for their individual and combined roles in predicting adolescent risk-taking and goal-oriented behaviors. Predictor variables were parenting behaviors (parenting style, monitoring, and involvement), the risk-taking and goal-oriented behavior of peers, and religiosity (attendance, involvement, and importance). General media consumption was also explored. The participants in this study were 272 9th to 12th grade Caucasian and Arab-American high school students (124 males and 148 females) from a suburban public school district in the midwestern United States (Mean age = 15.64). Results revealed several themes, including that peers appeared to have the primary role in explaining variance in risk behaviors, while parents have the primary role in explaining goal-oriented behavior. Religiosity contributed minimally. There were several noteworthy differences between the two cultural groups regarding which factors explained the most variance in criterion variables. Results are explored in more detail and implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Development and Initial Validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI)

Two studies summarize the development and initial validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI). In Study 1, the 115-item prototype MPI was administered to 415 university students where exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 70-item, 7-factor model. In Study 2, the 70-item MPI and theoretically related companion instruments were administered to a multisite sample of 576 university students. Confirmatory factory analysis found the 7-factor structure to be a relatively good fit to the data (Comparative Fit Index =.954; root mean square error of approximation =.057), and MPI factors predicted variance in criterion variables above and beyond the variance accounted for by broad personality traits (i.e., Big Five). Study limitations and directions for further validation research are specified.

Connection between solar activity and atmospheric circulation in period 1891-2004

In the presented paper on an annual and (floating) decadal scale, connection between Solar activity (represented with six 'traditional' parameters) and atmospheric circulation (represented with Vangengeim-Girs tipology) is examined. The correlation coefficients on the annual scale varies from 0,017-0,328 and in some cases show statistical significance. On the floating decadal level there is an increase of correlation and statistically significant coefficients varies from 0,271-0,727. By application of multiple linear regression on a floating decadal values, 57-82% of a variance in criterion variables is explained. Because of a high redundancy in Solar activity parameters, for estimation of each regression coefficient ridge regression was applied.

Attitudes toward male roles among adolescent males: A discriminant validity analysis

This study investigates the discriminant validity of a measure of attitudes toward male roles, i.e., beliefs about the importance of men adhering to cultural defined standards for masculinity. Using data from the 1988 National Survey of Adolescent Males, the Male Role Attitude Scale (MRAS) is evaluated in terms of (1) its independence from measures of attitudes toward female roles, and of attitudes toward gender roles and relationships, and (2) its differential correlates with and incremental ability to explain variance in criterion variables compared to measures of these two other gender-related attitudes. As predicted, the MRAS is unrelated to attitudes toward the female role, but is significantly associated with attitudes toward gender roles and relationships. As further predicted, the MRAS, but not attitudes toward women or attitudes toward gender roles and relationships, is associated with homophobic attitudes toward male homosexuality and with traditional male procreative attitudes. In addition, the MRAS explains significant incremental variance in these criterion measures when attitude toward female roles and attitude toward gender roles and relationships are controlled for. These results support the theoretical argument that attitudes toward male roles are conceptually distinct from the other gender-related attitudes examined here.

The role of attributions in consumer perceptions of retail advertisements promoting price discounts

This study examines whether information in an advertisement promoting a price discount is capable of affecting attributions made about the price reduction and whether these attributions, in turn, affect consumer perceptions and evaluations of the sale. Findings show that price image of the retail advertiser had a strong effect on attributions pertaining to the merchant and a marginal effect on product attributions. The attribution variables, in turn, explained significant amounts of variance in criterion variables measuring consumer perceptions of value, attitude toward the ad, and shopping intentions, beyond the variance explained by the store and discount claim variables manipulated in the study. These results suggest the importance of the role of attributions made by consumers when exposed to ads promoting discounts.

Personal Traits and "Success" in Schooling and Work

The group peer rating technique is employed to develop highly reliable measures of 16 personality traits for 445 adult workers and 237 high school seniors. Several of these traits are found to have high predictive validity for pay differentials, supervisor's ratings, and school grades. Dimensions derived from multidimensional scaling of the traits explain between 19 and 43 percent of the variance in criterion variables, and the corresponding validity coeficients are extremely high compared to those given in Ghiselli's (1966) comprehensive review study. Moreover, the results are robust in multivariate regressions with a series of other variables.