One key focus in the 21st century is adjusting work and personal life in order for individuals to find a rhythm to help them combine work with other responsibilities and aspirations in their personal lives. Over the past few decades it has become evident that work and personal life are interrelated domains and that employed individuals experience interaction between these domains. Although the amount and extent of work-family research studies in South Africa have progressed considerably over the past decade, it is not clear how the experiences of the interference between work and nonwork roles compare to the experiences of employees in other countries. There is also no South Africa instrument that measures the interference between work and different nonwork roles in both directions (work-to-nonwork and nonwork-to-work). This could pose potential problems for organisations and future workfamily studies in South Africa. The objectives of this research were 1) to gain insight into the interaction between work and personal life in the South African context and how South African employees experience this interaction; 2) to develop a new work-nonwork interference instrument that is suitable for the South African context and that addresses measurement and theoretical issues relating to previous work-family instruments; and 3) to test the psychometric properties of the newly developed work-nonwork interference instrument. The empirical study consisted of three phases. During the first phase, exploratory interviews (i.e. 92 interviews) were conducted in order to gather information regarding the interaction that individuals experience between their work and their personal lives. Thereafter, a new instrument that measures work-nonwork interference was developed and tested with a pilot study (n = 245) in order to overcome some of the measurement limitations relating to previous work-family instruments. During the final phase, the psychometric properties of the newly developed work-nonwork interference instrument were tested (Le. construct validity, discriminant validity, convergent validity and external validity; n = 366). Results from the exploratory phase indicated that South African employees experience various forms of interaction between their work and other dimensions in their personal life (e.g. domestic, leisure, exercise, studies, community, extended family and religion/spirituality). In addition, South African employees experience various stressors in their work environment that contribute to this interaction (i.e. general stressors such as pressure, overload, workload, stressful working arrangements, and strenuous relationships at work, and more occupation-specific stressors such as stressful nature of the job and not being valued in an unsupportive work environment). Additional supportive aspects present in their work environment included supportive work arrangements, supportive relationships at work and occupation satisfaction. Results also indicated consequences specifically related to all the forms of interaction (e.g. time-based consequences, build-up and spillover of emotions, and energy depletion) and consequences that are more related to a specific form of interaction (e.g. mental preoccupation, strain on relationships, managing responsibilities, limiting of work opportunities, energy generation, learned skills). From the exploratory study, very similar findings were obtained and some unique contributions were made to existing workfamily literature. The antecedents mentioned are in line with international literature (physical workload, time pressures, physical stressors, shift work and recipient contact) and the consequences are very similar to categorised consequences reported in international research (i.e. physical, psychological, behavioural, attitudinal, organisational consequences or work, nonwork and health-related consequences). During the second phase a new work-nonwork interference (W-NWI) instrument was developed which differentiates among interference between work and various specific roles in an individuals' personal life (i.e. work-parent interference, parent-work interference, workspouse interference, spouse-work interference, work-religion/spirituality interference, religion/spirituality-work interference, work-domestic interference, domestic-work interference). During the evaluation study various problematic items were eliminated using the Rasch measurement model. The fmal phase included the validation study where the psychometric properties of the new instrument were investigated. The results provided evidence for constrUct, discriminant and convergent validity, reliability and significant relations with external variables. Tills study provides evidence for the psychometric properties of the new instrument, which researchers and managers can use to investigate the specmc interference between work and different nonwork roles in employees' private lives. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Objective. This thesis examines the extent to which an intelligence test, the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS), aligned with the Carroll-Horn-Cattell theory of intelligence in children ages 4-18 who are either typically-developing or who have a variety of clinical impairments. Other aspects of the RIAS’s construct validity were also evaluated, including its relationship with the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and whether the RIAS measures intelligence in the same way in typically-developing children as in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the fit of one-factor (g) and two-factor (Verbal Ability and Non-Verbal ability) models in each sample. Configural and measurement invariance of each model were evaluated across the typically-developing group and a group of children with TBI. Correlations between scores on the RIAS and WISC-IV were examined in a group of children with clinical disorders. Results. The two-factor model fit the data of both groups while the one-factor model provided good fit to only the typically-developing group`s data. Both models showed configural invariance across groups, measurement invariance of the two-factor model, and partial measurement invariance of the one-factor model (What`s Missing subtest unconstrained), but scalar invariance was not established for either model. RIAS’s verbal subtests and indexes correlated with theoretically consistent WISC-IV indexes but the RIAS’s nonverbal subtests and indexes did not correlate highly with WISC-IV performance subtests. All RIAS index scores were higher than WISC-IV index scores. Conclusions. Evidence for the interpretability of the NIX and VIX as separate indexes was not found. The VIX is a valid index of crystallized abilities but the NIX does not adequately measure fluid intelligence. The CIX appears to provide a valid measure of g, but may be overly reliant on verbal abilities. The RIAS has significant validity issues that should limit its use in making important decisions. / Graduate

No description available.

There is a lacuna in the literature regarding the measurement of community collective efficacy, especially in an African context. Previously, a variety of studies have used and validated self-efficacy measures in Western social contexts (Chen, Gully & Eden, 2001; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1993; Carroll, Rosson & Zhou, 2005). Findings from cross-cultural psychology indicate that human behaviour is not acontextual (Devonport & Lane, 2006; Karademas, 2006; van de Vijver & Leung, 1997). Thus, this study was an attempt to explore the validation of a community collective efficacy scale in an African cultural context. A sample of 1050 Setswana-speaking participants was drawn from both urban and rural areas. The participants came from a relatively more collectivistic cultural context. Measuring instruments such as the Community Collective Efficacy Scale (Carroll, Rosson & Zhou, 2005), the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale ( Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1993), the New General Self-Efficacy Scale ( Chen, Gully & Eden, 2001), the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29) (Antonovsky, 1987, 1993) the Affectometer 2 (short version) (AFM) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979) were used in this study. Criterion-related validity of the CCES was established. Construct validity was determined by conducting confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses on the community collective efficacy scale. Results indicated a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.72 for the CCES and an acceptable inter-item correlations. Criterion-related validity was satisfactory. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit and exploratory factor analysis yielded only one factor on the items used. The results of the study indicated that overall, the CCES may be a valid measure of community collective efficacy in the sample selected for the study based on parameter estimates. Future studies should further validate this instrument cross-culturally in various African groups and contexts. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (MHC-SF) (Keyes, 2006a) in an African context. This 14-item self-report questionnaire that measures mental health was developed in a Western individualistic context, which differs from the more collectivistic African cultural context in South Africa. The MHC-SF consists of three subscales, namely Emotional well-being, Social well-being and Psychological/personal well-being. Participants (N^IOSO) from urban (n=451) and rural (n=599) settlements completed the MHC-SF and other measures indicating positive and negative facets of psychosocial functioning in a one-shot cross-sectional survey design with the aid of 16 trained fieldworkers. Scales included to determine concurrent/criterion-related validity were the Affectometer 2 (short version) (AFM) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), the Community Collective Efficacy Scale (revised) (CCES) (Carrol, Rosson & Zhou, 2005), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1993), the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE) (Chen, Gully & Eden, 2000), the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29) (Antonovsky, 1987,1993) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979). Results indicated a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0,75 for the total MHC-SF and acceptable inter-item and item-total correlations for the items. Item 4 had an eta-squared value indicating a large effect size, and thus had a negative impact on reliability. Mean inter-item correlations ranged between 0,19 and 0,30 and item-total correlations between 0,13 and 0,51. Concurrent/criterion-related validity was satisfactory. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded three factors. A three-factor model, omitting item 4, had the best fit in structural equation modelling. Six percent of the participants were languishing, Psychosocial well-being in an African context 73%) were moderately mentally healthy and 21%> were flourishing. More participants from the urban settlement flourish than from the rural settlement. It was concluded that the MHC-SF is reliable and valid for further use in research in an African context. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This thesis describes studies into the psychometric properties of a Swedish language version of the Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) instrument. The psychometric properties of this instrument have been examined in two previous studies: an American study was conducted by the developers of the interview, Friedman and Utada (1989), and a Swiss study was undertaken by Bolognini et al. (2001). The American and the French (as used in the Swiss study) versions of ADAD exhibit good validity and reliability, in the form of both interrater reliability and the internal consistency of the composite scores. Study I evaluated the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the ADAD interview in normal adolescents and adolescents with antisocial problems. It was found that the instrument has good interrater reliability, that the composite scores exhibit moderate internal consistency, and that the concept validity was acceptable and similar to that of the American and Swiss versions. The results also showed that the problem areas of ADAD produced meaningful correlations. The interviewer ratings, the adolescent’s ratings and the composite scores were compared and discussed. Some problems concerning the composite scores were discovered and will need to be analyzed in future studies. Study II investigated the utility and problems associated with the composite scores in the ADAD within and between normal adolescents and adolescents with antisocial problems. When comparing interviewer severity ratings and composite scores within the two groups, the composite scores were found to behave differently to the interviewer ratings. For normal adolescents, the composite scores are generally higher than the interviewer ratings, but for the adolescents with antisocial problems the reverse is true. The interviewer severity ratings seem to be the most appropriate outcome when the objective is to separate antisocial and normal groups of adolescents from each other. The difference between the two groups is smaller as measured by composite scores. The composite scores appear to function as viable indicators of current problems in all areas except for Medical and Alcohol problem area. The critical items within the Medical and Alcohol composite scores are explored and discussed.  Study III investigated the concurrent and predictive validity of the ADAD Psychological status and problem area. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between the ADAD, Youth Self Report (YSR) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores. The predictive validity of this problem area of the ADAD was tested by exploring its correlations with the YSR, BDI, and DICA problem ratings; moderate correlations were observed, suggesting that in clinical practice, the ADAD Psychological status and problem area may be a useful tool for the assessment and measurement of current psychological problems. The utility obtained by making decisions using the test is substantial. Overall, the results of these studies indicate that the Swedish version of ADAD appears to be a psychometrically good instrument for assessing the severity of adolescents’ problems and their need for treatment, but there are some problems with the Medical and Alcohol composite scores.

[Abstract]Cognitive tests are rarely used in isolation. Instead the collection of tests into batteries is common place in clinical assessment. Clinical batteries range from fixed collections of tests administered unchanged to each client, to batteries flexibly constructed according to a process of hypothesis testing whic varies between clients. Reviews of clinical practice indicate that clinicians predominantly employ a semi-flexibly constructed battery, comprised of a core group of measures with the addition of others drawn as needed from an available pool. While this accommodates for clinical concerns, the psychometric characteristics of such a battery tend to be unevaluated and clinicians draw inferences without reference to the resultant associated measurement error. This has been duly noted in the research literature which increasingly cites the need for psychometric evaluation at the battery level. The current investigation was undertaken to address this difficulty of clinical practice and aimed to develop a psychometrically and practically driven actuarial model with practicing clinicians could structure and analyse cognitive batteries with due reference to reliability, validity and clinical utility. To this end, a review of psychometric literature was undertaken to dermine theorical guidelines for the control and measurement of error at the individual test and battery level. Reviews indicated that to successfully accommodate for the impact of random measurement error, clinicians must apply reliability theory to evaluation of the error associated with domain-based combinations of tests. Additionally, to ensure the validity of test-based inferences and avoid errors in decision-making, clinicians must apply empirically vaidated structures of cognitive function to guide test selection and combination. Given the pressing necessity of battery flexibility, it was concluded that clinicians could best accommodate psychometrid and clinical factors by the use of flexibly constructed composite scores. A reliable approach to psychological testing (RAPT) was proposed which applied psychometric theory and clinical factors to the development of a robust battery structure. The RAPT method focussed on the use of composite scores of domain-specific tests, grouped according to empirically validated domains and moderated by direct estimation of composite reliability. The RAPT was developed with the aim of facilitating the application of psychometric, actuarial methodology to a flexible collection of cognitive tests. In explicating the RAPT model, fifteen primary algorithms were derived from psychometric literature and outlined according to 3 stages of battery usage: test selection; test analysis; and, test interpretation. The utility of the RAPT was examined in terms of its capacity to improve psychometric robustness within a flexible battery. Specifically, using simulated demonstration, RAPT was demonstrated to provide a means of formalising empirically validated structure within a battery of tests, of controlling and improving the reliability of domain-based composite scores, of reducing the impact of artifactual errors on domain-based inferences and of applying actuarial methods typically associated with fixed batteries to a flexible collection of measures. Following this, RAPT was demonstrated to replicate existing psychometrically valid and stable interpretative structures. Specifically, RAPT algorithms were used to re-create the normative information provided for the Wide Ranbe Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WRAT-4)Reading Compoiste. Norms calculated using RAPT were compared with those provided in the WRAT-4 interpretative manual with minimal differences found. RAPT algorithms were then used to re-create normative and ipsative tables, summary scores intercorrelations, and reliability coefficients for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition (WAIS-III) summary scores: Full Scale IQ (FSIQ); Verbal IQ (VIQ); Performance IQ (PIQ); Verbal Comprehensive Index (VCI); Perceptual Organisation Index (POI); Processing Speed Index (PSI); and, Working Memory Index (WMI). Again, RAPT, was demonstrated to successfully replicate these data. Finally, the clinical utility of RAPT was demonstrated with the illustration of case examples which outlined the capacity of RAPT to apply psychometrically sound methodology to the tasks of modifying existing composites, modifying existing battery structure and developing battery structure and analyses according to a factor analysis investigation of an Australian normative sample (n=1045). These investigations provided comprehensive evidence of the capacity of the RAPT to enable the direct application of psychometric theory to semi-flexible battery construction in a manner suitable for use in current clinical practice.

Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) är ett instrument framtaget för att mäta funktion hos patienter med bipolär sjukdom. FAST fyller en potentiellt viktig funktion och både forskare och kliniker betonar betydelsen av att mäta funktion hos denna patientgrupp. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka intern konsistens, interbedömarreliabilitet, faktorstruktur och samtidig validitet hos den svenska versionen av FAST. Datamaterialet samlades in på Affektiva mottagningen vid Psykiatri Sydväst och 219 patienter deltog i studien. Faktoranalysen gav stöd för sex faktorer. Interbedömarreliabiliteten var relativt låg och visade på signifikanta skillnader mellan olika bedömare. Även då resultaten preliminärt visade att FAST har tillfredsställande validitet och intern konsistens för att användas i det praktiska arbetet, bör de psykometriska egenskaperna hos den svenska versionen av FAST utvärderas ytterligare i kommande studier.

O objetivo do presente projeto foi traduzir e adaptar o Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire – OBQ-44 ao Português Brasileiro e verificar suas propriedades psicométricas em pacientes com Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC). Na primeira etapa, traduziu-se e adaptou-se o OBQ-44 ao Português Brasileiro, aplicou-se essa versão inicial a 20 pacientes com TOC, observando sua compreensão e adequações linguísticas. Retro-traduzido, gerou-se uma versão final aprovada pela autora. Sua versão brasileira mostrou-se de fácil compreensão e apto a pacientes de classes sócioeconômicas diversas e na identificação dos domínios de crenças em pacientes com TOC, auxiliando na compreensão da origem e manutenção do transtorno. Na segunda etapa, avaliaram-se suas propriedades psicométricas em 104 pacientes com TOC, dos quais 48 realizaram 12 sessões semanais de Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental em Grupo (TCCG) e 56 permaneceram em lista de espera, no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Pela análise fatorial, identificaram-se 3 domínios de crenças da escala original, consistência interna muito boa e reprodutibilidade boa. Após intervenção, a sensibilidade à mudança foi boa e quanto ao tamanho de efeito padronizado, verificouse forte intensidade. A versão brasileira do OBQ-44 apresentou boas propriedades psicométricas, mostrando-se útil ao estudo de crenças disfuncionais em pacientes com TOC e sua modificação com o tratamento. / The aim of this present Project was to translate and adapt the Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire – OBQ-44 to the Brazilian Portuguese, and to verify its psychometric properties in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). During the first stage, the OBQ-44 was translated and adapted to the Brazilian Portuguese, and it was administrated to 20 patients with OCD to observe its comprehension and linguistic accuracies. After being back-translated, a final version was developed and approved by the author. Its Brazilian version presents to be easily comprehended and suitable to be used with patients belonging to several socio-economic classes, and to identify the belief domains in patients with OCD, assisting the understanding of the origin and maintenance of the disorder. During the second stage, its psychometric properties were evaluated in 104 patients with OCD, of whom 48 underwent 12 weekly sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT), and 56 remained on the waiting list, at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Through factor analysis, 3 belief domains from the original scale were identified, very good internal consistence, and good reproducibility. After intervention, the sensitiveness to changes was good and, regarding the standardized measures of effect, a strong intensity was verified. The Brazilian version of the OBQ-44 presented good psychometric properties and value to the study of dysfunctional beliefs in patients with OCD and the alterations after treatment.

Não existem instrumentos validados para o português do Brasil que avaliem a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) em dispepsia funcional (DF). Esse tipo de avaliação tem se tornado cada vez mais importante para análise do desfecho de ensaios clínicos e para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas transculturais em pacientes dispépticos funcionais. Objetivo: traduzir e validar o questionário doença-específico de QVRS “Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders – Quality of Life (PAGI-QOL)” em DF. Metodologia: estudo transversal para validação. Após adequado processo de tradução, 5 testes psicométricos foram realizados. Para cada teste um número variável de pessoas foi avaliado, considerando cálculo amostral: consistência interna (n=150 casos e 150 controles), reprodutibilidade (n=44 casos), a validade de conteúdo contou com a participação de 3 gastroenterologistas experientes em distúrbios funcionais “cegos” para o estudo; validade de critério (n=113 casos) e validade discriminante (n=86 casos e 86 controles). Grupo de casos: pacientes dispépticos funcionais diagnosticados segundo Critério de Roma III. Grupo controle: doadores de sangue que não apresentavam sintomas gastrointestinais e outras co-morbidades clinicamente relevantes. Amostras foram coletadas por conveniência e consecutivamente e completaram os questionários PAGI-QOL e SF-36 versão 2. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Consentimento informado foi assinado por todos os indivíduos. Resultados: consistência interna: 0,976 (α de Cronbach); reprodutibilidade dos escores totais: 0,841 (coeficiente de correlação intra-classe); e valor p = 0,331 para diferença entre as duas observações; validade de critério entre o escore total do PAGI-QOL e os escores dos componentes físicos e mentais do SF-36 versão 2: rs = -0,289 (p = 0,002) e rs = -0,437 (p <0,001), respectivamente; validade discriminante para todos os domínios: p<0,0001 (Mann-Whitney). Validade de conteúdo foi adequada. Conclusão: O PAGI-QOL em português do Brasil é um questionário válido e confiável para avaliar a QVRS em DF. / There are no validated instruments to Brazilian Portuguese to assess health related quality of life (HRQoL) in functional dyspepsia (FD). This type of assessment has become increasingly important with the objective of evaluating outcomes in clinical trials and development of cross-cultural research in FD patients. Objective: To translate and validate the HRQOL disease-specific questionnaire "Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders - Quality of Life (PAGI-QoL)" in FD. Methodology: cross sectional study for validation. After an adequate the translation process, 5 psychometric tests were performed. For each of them a variable number of individuals were assessed, considering sample size calculation: internal consistency (n = 150 patients and 150 controls), reproducibility (n = 44 patients), content validity with the participation of 3 gastroenterologists experienced in functional gastrointestinal disorders, blinded to the study; concurrent validity = n = 113 patients and discriminant validity = 86 patients and 86 controls. FD patients: diagnosed according to Rome III criteria. Control group: blood donors who had no gastrointestinal symptoms and no other clinically relevant co-morbidities. Both samples were collected by convenience and consecutively, and completed questionnaires PAGI-QoL and SF-36 version 2. The study was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee. Informed consent form was signed by all individuals. Results: Internal consistency: 0.976 (Cronbach's α), reproducibility of total scores: 0.841 (correlation coefficient of intra-class) and p value = 0.331 for differences between the two observations; concurrent validity between the total score of the PAGI-QOL and the scores of physical and mental components of SF-36 version 2: rs = -0,289 (p = 0.002) and rs = -0,437 (p <0.001), respectively; discriminant validity for all domains: p <0.0001 (Mann-Whitney). Content validity was adequate. Conclusion: The PAGI-QoL in Brazilian Portuguese language is a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess HRQoL in FD.