The aim of the current study is threefold: to develop a creativity questionnaire based on the main criteria for creativity as determined by means of a comprehensive literature survey; to administer this questionnaire, in combination with the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) and the 16PF for the purpose of determining respondents’ level of creativity in relation to their personality constellation; to determine whether a typical 16PF profile can be obtained for the purpose of identifying a creative individual. The sample consisted of fourth-year Psychology students at the University of Pretoria. Identified problems that motivated the research include, amongst others, a lack of research in this domain, and therefore a need for a reliable and valid measuring instrument for creativity. Creative individuals are often misinterpreted or misunderstood by the community as the result of a lack of knowledge. The purpose of the research will also be to reduce misconceptions such as these, by informing the reader about creativity as well as the individuals who possess this unique characteristic. Creativity is, however, an extremely broad concept which is very difficult to define, and only the main criteria for creativity were applied in the development of the Creativity Questionnaire. According to Ryhammar&Brolin (1999), creative individuals can be described as being motivated, persevering, intellectually inquisitive, having a need for self-actualisation, independent in thought and deed, confident, self-aware, and open to external and internal stimulation. Operationalisation of such criteria formed the basis of the Creativity Questionnaire. The dissertation reports on the development of a Creativity Questionnaire which can be used in a variety of areas, but will need further revision and refinement in terms of items included, validity and reliability. Therefore the current study should be considered as a pilot study for the testing and development of this questionnaire. The results of this investigation confirm and extend previous research in demonstrating a close association between creativity and specific personality traits. Creative subjects (as measured by the ATTA) indicated that they perceive themselves to be significantly more independent in thought, open to experience, dominant, individualistic and competent, than less creative subjects. Both subjects with average and high creativity levels indicated that they tend to be more resourceful, self-sufficient, and prefer to make their own decisions. These subjects tend to be more abstract thinking and bright. Both subjects with low creativity levels and subjects with high creativity levels indicated that they tend to be more spontaneous, socially bold, uninhibited and venturesome than subjects with average creativity levels. The latter subjects tend to be more restrained, sensitive to threats, timid and shy. Subjects with low creativity levels on the other hand, indicated that they tend to be more outgoing, participating, warm-hearted and easy-going than subjects with an average creativity level. The latter subject group tends to be more critical, detached and reserved. Subjects with low creativity levels also seem to be joiners, sound followers and group-dependent. These subjects also indicated that they tend to be more concrete thinking and less intelligent, than subjects with average and high creativity levels. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

The Rational Experiential Inventory consist of two large scales (rational and experiential), each one with two subscales (ability and engagement). Their psychometric properties have been studied in several countries, but there are no reports in the Latin American context. In this study we analyzed the factor structure and internal consistency of the Rational Experiential Inventory, and assessed the relationships between processing styles and different personality dimensions in a sample of students from Argentina. The results show an underlying two factorstructure with good internal consistency values. Only one significant relationshipbetween experiential style and extraversion was observed. A version with fewer items was attained and, due to its adequate psychometric properties, this instrument may be used in future research studies. / El Rational Experiential Inventory comprende dos grandes escalas (racional y experiencial), cada una con dos subescalas (habilidad y preferencia). Sus propiedades psicométricas han sido estudiadas en varios países, sin existir, según nuestro conocimiento, estudios en el contexto Latinoamericano. En este estudio analizamos la estructura factorial y consistencia interna del Rational Experiential Inventory y evaluamos las relaciones entre los modos de procesamiento y distintas dimensiones de la personalidad en una muestra de estudiantes de Argentina.  Los resultados muestran una estructura subyacente de dos factores, con buenos valores de consistencia interna. Solo se observó una relación positiva entre el modo experiencial y extroversión. Se obtuvo una versión con menor cantidad de ítems con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para ser utilizada en contextos de investigación. / O Rational Experential Inventory inclui dois grandes escalas (racional e experiencial), cada uma com duas subescalas (de habilidade e de preferência). Suas propriedades psicométricas têm sido estudadas em vários países, sem existir, segundo nosso conhecimento, estudos no contexto latino-americano. Neste estudo analisamos a estrutura fatorial e consistência interna do Rational Experential Inventory e avaliamos as relações entre os modos de processamento e diferentes dimensões da personalidade em uma amostra de estudantes da Argentina. Os resultados mostram uma estrutura subjacente de dois fatores, com valores adequados de consistência interna. Foi observada apenas uma relação positiva entre o modo experiencial e extroversão. Obteve-se uma versão com menos itens com propriedades psicométricas adequadas para uso em ambientes de pesquisa.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-01-28T14:23:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 danielalexandregouveagomes.pdf: 1397863 bytes, checksum: c8dd2724000b5ba816907d9cb9b77578 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-01-28T14:25:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 danielalexandregouveagomes.pdf: 1397863 bytes, checksum: c8dd2724000b5ba816907d9cb9b77578 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-28T14:25:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 danielalexandregouveagomes.pdf: 1397863 bytes, checksum: c8dd2724000b5ba816907d9cb9b77578 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-31 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O Transtorno de Ansiedade Social (TAS) é uma patologia muito comum nos dias atuais, figurando como o principal transtorno de ansiedade e uma das doenças mentais mais prevalentes na população mundial. É caracterizada por medo ou ansiedade excessiva e constante diante de situações sociais, que podem ser de desempenho, de interação ou de observação, em que o indivíduo apresenta temor em ser avaliado negativamente por outras pessoas, podendo ser exposto a humilhações e ao escrutínio. O objetivo do trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um instrumento de rastreio dos sintomas do TAS, capaz de identificar os sujeitos com maior probabilidade de desenvolvimento da doença. O estudo dividiu-se em duas fases: primeiro tivemos a construção do instrumento, e segundo, a aplicação do mesmo em 297 pessoas. Foram aplicados um questionário sócio-demográfico, a Escala de Ansiedade Social de Liebowitz, o Mini Inventário de Fobia Social e a escala desenvolvida pelos autores. Os resultados preliminares mostraram excelentes índices de consistência interna e a análise fatorial foi considerada satisfatória. Houve associação entre a pontuação da escala e alguns indicadores sócio-demográficos, de acordo com a literatura científica da área. / The Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a very common condition presently, appearing as the primary anxiety disorder and one of the most prevalent mental diseases worldwide. It is characterized by constant and excessive fear or anxiety about social situations, which can be of performance, interaction or observation, in which a person has fear of being negatively evaluated by others, and may be exposed to humiliation and scrutiny. The objective of this work is the development of a screening instrument of the symptoms of SAD, which is able to identify as well subjects with greater likelihood of developing the disease. The study was divided into two phases: the first refers to the construction of the instrument and the second consists on the application of the test to 297 subjects. One socio-demographic questionnaire, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Mini Social Phobia Inventory and the scale developed by the authors. Preliminary results showed excellent internal consistency and factor analysis was considered satisfactory. There was an association between the scale score and some socio-demographic indicators, according to scientific literature in the area.

Titre : EVALUATION DE LA FRAGILITE EN ONCOLOGIE GERIATRIQUE : DEVELOPPEMENT ET VALIDATION D’UNE NOUVELLE ECHELLE DE DEPISTAGE.Mots clés : fragilité, sujet âgée, cancer, dépistage, développement, validation, analyse de survie.Résumé : Une évaluation gériatrique (EG) est recommandée pour tous les patients âgés atteints de cancer pour identifier d’éventuels problèmes de santé et ainsi optimiser la stratégie thérapeutique. Néanmoins, elle est très consommatrice de temps et de moyens. Plusieurs outils de dépistage ont été développés mais a) aucun ne dispose de propriétés diagnostiques adéquates en pratique clinique, b) ils ont le plus souvent été développés sur la base d’opinions d’experts sans développement statistique spécifique, et c) peu de données sont disponibles pour apprécier leur robustesse au changement de gold standard pour définir le concept de « fragilité ». Par conséquent, notre objectif était 1) de construire et valider un outil de dépistage performant de la fragilité et de le comparer à l’outil de dépistage G8 actuellement utilisé en oncogériatrie, 2) d’en tester la robustesse vis-à-vis de 6 définitions de référence de la fragilité et 3) d’en évaluer la valeur pronostique pour la mortalité à 1 et 3 ans. Les données étaient issues de deux cohortes prospectives de patients âgés atteints de cancer : ELCAPA (2007–2012: n=729 [développement]), et ONCODAGE (2008–2010: n=1304 [validation externe]). L’outil G8 modifié final (aire sous la courbe ROC [AUROC] : 91,6% ; Sensibilité=89% ; Spécificité=79%) comprenait 6 items indépendants : perte de poids, problèmes neuropsychologiques, statut fonctionnel, état de santé perçu, poly-prescription et existence parmi les antécédents d’une insuffisance cardiaque ou coronaropathie. Les travaux accomplis dans le cadre de cette thèse ont de plus permis de confirmer ses bonnes propriétés diagnostiques en validation externe (AUROC : 84,6% ; Sensibilité=82% ; Spécificité=69%), sa robustesse au changement de gold standard et sa valeur pronostique forte vis-à-vis de la mortalité. L’utilisation du G8 et G8 modifié devrait être encouragée en oncologie gériatrique. / Title : ASSESSMENT OF FRAILTY IN GERIATRIC ONCOLOGY: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A NEW SCREENING TOOL Key words: frailty, older person, cancer, screening, development, validation, survival analysis.Abstract: The comprehensive geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended in older cancer patients to inventory health problems and tailor treatment decisions accordingly. However, GA is time- and resource-consuming. Several screening tools have been developed but a) their diagnostic performance is insufficient, b) most instruments have been developed exclusively on the basis of experts’ opinions without any specific statistical psychometric development, and c) a wide variability of criteria have been used to define “frailty” as the gold standard, with no investigations of their influence on the diagnostic properties of screening instruments. Therefore, our objective was 1) to develop and validate a new screening tool for frailty that achieves high diagnostic accuracy, and to compare it to the G8 screening tool, currently used in oncogeriatrics, 2) to evaluate its robustness to modifications on the gold standard, for which 6 reference definitions were tested, and 3) to assess its prognostic value for 1- and 3-years mortality. We used two prospective cohorts of older patients with cancer: ELCAPA (2007–2012: n=729 [development]), and ONCODAGE (2008–2010: n=1304 [external validation]). The final modified-G8 (area under the ROC curve [AUROC]: 91.6%; Sensitivity=89%; Specificity=79%) included 6 independent items: weight loss, cognition/mood, performance status, self-rated health status, polypharmacy and history of heart failure or coronary heart disease. The work carried out in this thesis has also confirmed its good diagnostic properties in external validation analyses (AUROC: 84.6%; Sensitivity=82%; Specificity=69%), its robustness to modifications of the gold standard definition and its strong prognostic value for overall survival. The use of the G8 and modified-G8 should be encouraged in geriatric oncology.

Objective. This article reports on the test–retest reliability and sensitivity to change of a set of brief dimensional self-rating questionnaires for social anxiety disorder (SAD-D), specific phobia (SP-D), agoraphobia (AG-D), panic disorder (PD-D), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-D), as well as a general cross-cutting anxiety scale (Cross-D), which were developed to supplement categorical diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Methods. The German versions of the dimensional anxiety scales were administered to 218 students followed up approximately 2 weeks later (Study 1) and 55 outpatients (23 with anxiety diagnoses) followed-up 1 year later (Study 2). Probable diagnostic status in students was determined by the DIA-X/M-CIDI stem screening-questionnaire (SSQ). In the clinical sample, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnoses were assessed at Time 1 using the DIA-X/M-CIDI. At Time 2, the patient-version of the Clinical Global Impression— Improvement scale (CGI-I) was applied to assess change. Results: Good psychometric properties, including high test–retest reliability, were found for the dimensional scales except for SP-D. In outpatients, improvement at Time 2 was associated with significant decrease in PD-D, GAD-D, and Cross-D scores. Discussion. Major advantages of the scales include that they are brief, concise, and based on a consistent template to measure the cognitive, physiological, and ehavioral symptoms of fear and anxiety. Further replication in larger samples is needed. Given its modest psychometric properties, SP-D needs refinement. Conclusion. Increasing evidence from diverse samples suggests clinical utility of the dimensional anxiety scales.

The thesis is dealing with the topic of depression and measurement instruments, which may contribute to its diagnostics and assessment. Special attention is dedicated to the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition, and the aim of this thesis is to provide normative data acquired from a large sample of healthy adult participants coming from the Czech Republic (N = 450; aged 18 to 96 years). The Beck Depression Inventory, second edition (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) belongs among the most famous and most often used measures of depression severity. A significant relationship was found between the BDI-II total score and gender and education level, but not age. Women tended to score significantly higher than men on average, and a negative correlation between the BDI-II total score and education was found. Therefore, the normative data were analysed and stratified according to these two demographic variables. Tables, presenting means, standard deviations, percentiles and standard scores are provided for the total unstratified sample as well as for demographically defined subgroups. In addition, internal consistency of the Czech version was high (alpha above .80). The item-total correlations, and factorial structure of the instrument were investigated and the results were compared with results...

The aim of the study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Adolescent- Risk of Addiction to Social Networks and Internet Scale (ERA-RSI) in Peruvian students. The sample was composed by 755 students (52.2% women), whose ages ranged from 13 to 24 years (M = 17, SD = 2.93) and attended private schools (62.2%) or universities (33.8%). The internal structure of the ERA-RSI, the invariance according to the level of instruction and sex, its relationship with other variables, and the reliability by internal consistency were analyzed. The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicate a four-dimensional structure with adequate fit indices (χ2 / gl = 3.81, CFI = .91, TLI = .90, RMSEA = .061 [.058, .065], SRMR = .061) and which is invariant according to the level of instruction (school and university) and sex (men and women). In addition, good reliability is shown by internal consistency (ω = .74 to .83). For its part, convergent validity was performed with the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (ARS) a positive, moderate to strong statistically significant correlation were found between the dimensions of both tests. In conclusion, the present adaptation of the ERA-RSI has, in general, adequate empirical evidence of validity and reliability and can be used in future research. / El objetivo fue analizar las evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de la Escala de Riesgo de Adicción-adolescente a las Redes Sociales e Internet (ERARSI) en estudiantes peruanos. Participaron 755 estudiantes (52.2% mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre los 13 a 24 años (M = 17, DE = 2.93) pertenecientes a escuelas (62.2%) o universidades privadas (33.8%). Se analizó la estructura interna de la ERA-RSI, la invarianza según nivel educativo y sexo, su relación con otras variables y la confiabilidad por consistencia interna. Los resultados del Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) indican una estructura de cuatro dimensiones con adecuados índices de ajuste (χ2 / gl = 3.81, CFI = .91, TLI = .90, RMSEA = .061 [.058, .065], SRMR = .061) y que es invariante según el nivel educativo (escolares y universitarios) y el sexo (hombres y mujeres). Además, se evidencia una buena confiabilidad por consistencia interna (ω = .74 a .83). Por su parte, la validez convergente se realizó con el Cuestionario de Adicción a las Redes Sociales (ARS) y se encontró, entre las dimensiones de ambas pruebas, correlaciones positivas, estadísticamente significativas y de magnitud entre moderadas y fuertes. En conclusión, la presente adaptación de la ERA-RSI cuenta, en general, con adecuadas evidencias empíricas de validez y fiabilidad y puede ser usada en futuras investigaciones.

The ceiling and basal rules of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2008) only function as intended if subtest items proceed in order of difficulty. While many aspects of the WAIS-IV have been researched, there is no literature about subtest item difficulty and precise item difficulty values are not available. The WAIS-IV was developed within the framework of Classical Test Theory (CTT) and item difficulty was most often determined using p-values. One limitation of this method is that item difficulty values are sample dependent. Both standard error of measurement, an important indicator of reliability, and p-values change when the sample changes. A different framework within which psychological tests can be created, analyzed and refined is called Item Response Theory (IRT). IRT places items and person ability onto the same scale using linear transformations and links item difficulty level to person ability. As a result, IRT is said to be produce sample-independent statistics. Rasch modeling, a form of IRT, is one parameter logistic model that is appropriate for items with only two response options and assumes that the only factors affecting test performance are characteristics of items, such as their difficulty level or their relationship to the construct being measured by the test, and characteristics of participants, such as their ability levels. The partial credit model is similar to the standard dichotomous Rasch model, except that it is appropriate for items with more than two response options. Proponents of standard dichotomous Rasch model argue that it has distinct advantages above both CTT-based methods as well as other IRT models (Bond & Fox, 2007; Embretson & Reise, 2000; Furr & Bacharach, 2013; Hambleton & Jones, 1993) because of the principle of monotonicity, also referred to as specific objectivity, the principle of additivity or double cancellation, which “establishes that two parameters are additively related to a third variable” (Embretson & Reise, 2000, p. 148). In other words, because of the principle of monotonicity, in Rasch modeling, probability of correctly answering an item is the additive function of individuals’ ability, or trait level, and the item’s degree of difficulty. As ability increases, so does an individual’s probability of answering that item. Because only item difficulty and person ability affect an individual’s chance of correctly answering an item, inter-individual comparisons can be made even if individuals did not receive identical items or items of the same difficulty level. This is why Rasch modeling is referred to as a test-free measurement. The purpose of this study was to apply a standard dichotomous Rasch model or partial credit model to the individual items of seven core perceptual, verbal and working memory subtests of the WAIS-IV: Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles, Similarities, Vocabulary, Information, Arithmetic Digits Forward, Digits Backward and Digit Sequencing. Results revealed that WAIS-IV subtests fall into one of three categories: optimally ordered, near optimally ordered and sub-optimally ordered. Optimally ordered subtests, Digits Forward and Digits Backward, had no disordered items. Near optimally ordered subtests were those with one to three disordered items and included Digit Sequencing, Arithmetic, Similarities and Block Design. Sub-optimally ordered subtests consisted of Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles, Information and Vocabulary, with the number of disordered items ranging from six to 16. Two major implications of the result of this study were considered: the impact on individuals’ scores and the impact on overall test administration time. While the number of disordered items ranged from 0 to 16, the overall impact on raw scores was deemed minimal. Because of where the disordered items occur in the subtest, most individuals are administered all the items that they would be expected to answer correctly. A one-point reduction in any one subtest is unlikely to significantly affect overall index scores, which are the scores most commonly interpreted in the WAIS-IV. However, if an individual received a one-point reduction across all subtests, this may have a more noticeable impact on index scores. In cases where individuals discontinue before having a chance to answer items that were easier, clinicians may consider testing the limits. While this would have no impact on raw scores, it may provide clinicians with a better understanding of individuals’ true abilities. Based on the findings of this study, clinicians may consider administering only certain items in order to test the limits, based on the items’ difficulty value. This study found that the start point for most subtests is too easy for most individuals. For some subtests, most individuals may be administered more than 10 items that are too easy for them. Other than increasing overall administration time, it is not clear what impact, of any, this has. However, it does suggest the need to reevaluate current start items so that they are the true basal for most people. Future studies should break standard test administration by ignoring basal and ceiling rules to collect data on more items. In order to help clarify why some items are more or less difficult than would be expected given their ordinal rank, future studies should include a qualitative aspect, where, after each subtest, individuals are asked describe what they found easy and difficult about each item. Finally, future research should examine the effects of item ordering on participant performance. While this study revealed that only minimal reductions in index scores likely result from the prematurely stopping test administration, it is not known if disordering has other impacts on performance, perhaps by increasing or decreasing an individual’s confidence.

This diploma thesis presents a new concept of nonattachment to self. The theoretical part consists of the introduction of a different conceptualization of the self in Western and Buddhist psychology and describes the historical background of nonattachment. It further describes the concept of nonattachment, on which the concept of nonattachment to self is based. This concept is further introduced in relation to self-related processes and its possible impact on mental health. The last chapter presents Czech and foreign scales measuring nonattachment (NAS, NAS-30-CZ, NAS-SF, NAS-SF-CZ) and nonattachment to self (NTS, NTS-CZ). The aim of the empirical part of the work was to perform a validation study of the Scale of Nonattachment to Self (NTS-CZ) on a Czech sample to verify its psychometric properties. A total of 125 respondents were administered an online questionnaire battery, which consisted of a total of 8 questionnaires: Nonattachment to Self Scale (NTS-CZ), Nonattachment Scale-Short Form (NAS-SF-CZ), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-CZ), Patients Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Short Form (FFMQ-15-CZ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-SF (DERS-SF-CZ) and Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS-CZ). Overall, the scale showed...

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