Response styles, the tendency to respond to Likert-type items irrespective of content, are a widely known threat to the reliability and validity of self-report measures. However, it is still debated how to measure and control for response styles such as extreme responding. Recently, multiprocess item response theory models have been proposed that…

The overclaiming technique is a novel assessment procedure that uses signal detection analysis to generate indices of knowledge accuracy (OC-accuracy) and self-enhancement (OC-bias). The technique has previously shown robustness over varied knowledge domains as well as low reactivity across administration contexts. Here we compared the OC-accuracy…

The purpose of this study was to compare how students in Grades 3 to 6 respond to a mathematics attitudes instrument with a 4-point Likert-type scale compared with one with an additional neutral point (a 5-point Likert-type scale). The 606 participating students from six elementary and middle schools randomly received either the 4-point or 5-point…

Fear of failure (FF) energizes individuals to avoid failure because of the learned aversive consequences of failing (e.g., shame). Although FF is socialized in childhood, little is known about the meaning of scores from FF measures used with children and adolescents. This study addresses that void by establishing a preliminary nomological network…

The psychometric properties of scores from the Academic Self-Concept Scale are examined in a group of 198 Asian American college students. Using parallel analysis, a four-factor solution accounting for 46% of the variance was found. In a test of construct validity, academic self-concept was found to be negatively related to adherence to Asian…

The notion of item context effects implies that psychometric properties of an item or scale are altered by the presentation format, for example, blocked versus randomized. In an experimental study with high school students, the experimental group (n = 407) answered a four-dimensional academic self-concept questionnaire, in which the items were…

The use of reliability generalization methodology promises to, among other things, inform researchers about the importance of reporting reliability coefficients and their use in result interpretation. This study presents results from a reliability generalization study of the Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ). The average score reliabilities…

Confirmatory factor analysis of responses by 211 preadolescents (M age = 10.25 years,SD = 1.48) with mild intellectual disabilities (MIDs) to the individually administered Self Description Questionnaire I-Individual Administration (SDQI-IA) counters widely cited claims that these children cannot differentiate multiple self-concept factors. Results…

Typically, group differences are analyzed at the subdomain or test level using composite scores. This can mask the effect of individual items across groups. For example, two items from the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) are worded in terms of internal ("I am good looking") and external ("Nobody thinks Im good looking") frames of…

Determines the reliability and discrimination values of each item; whether items judged highly intimate by Jourard discriminate between high and low disclosers more than items judged lowly intimate; and sex differences in disclosure. (Author)

Reliability estimates following two administrations of the eight factor scales of the Primary Self-Concept Scale to third grade children were obtained. Concurrent validity was determined relative to the same factors on the Teacher Questionnaire designed to reflect teachers' perceptions of children's behaviors in these categories. (Author/BJG)

The concept of psychosocial competence, or psychological effectiveness is investigated via three studies on college and high school students. The Behavioral Attributes of Psychosocial Competence measure used in these studies were found to differentiate between students rated competent or not competent by external sources. (JKS)

For each of two revised forms of the Dimensions of Self-Concept measure (intermediate and secondary forms), statistical information is presented concerning the intercorrelations of each of five factor scales, the reliability and standard error of measurement of each scale, and the results of item analyses. (Author/JKS)

Three essentially parallel forms of the Dimensions of Self-Concept scale were factor analyzed using three samples of students: one elementary school sample, one junior high school sample, and one high school sample. Results are interpreted in terms of the reliability and validity of the scale. (Author/JKS)

The Barksdale Self-Esteem Test, the Piers-Harris Childrens Self Concept Scale and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale were administered to three samples of lower middle-class junior high school students and factor analyzed. Six factors were found to be essentially invariant across samples. (Author/JKS)