Journal of Personality Assessment

Furr, R. Michael

doi: 10.1080/00223890903379134pmid: 20013451

As applied to many psychological phenomena, analysis of profile similarity has an intuitive appeal that masks complex statistical issues. Psychologists have long debated the methods of indexing similarity between 2 psychological profiles, but the double-entry intraclass correlation may be emerging as a preferred approach. Unfortunately, the double-entry intraclass correlation has not been articulated clearly in terms of fundamental facets of profiles—elevation, scatter, and shape—which prevents full understanding of its meaning. In this article, I (a) articulate these effects, (b) discuss potential limitations and confusions arising from these effects, (c) present a failure to replicate previous empirical findings regarding the double-entry intraclass correlation, and (d) present alternative recommendations for analysis of profile similarity. The conceptual, mathematical, and empirical points may enhance the insights emerging from analyses of profiles and profile similarity.

Stoeber, Joachim; Kobori, Osamu; Tanno, Yoshihiko

doi: 10.1080/00223890903379159pmid: 20013452

The Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (MPCI; Kobori & Tanno, 2004) is a promising new instrument developed in Japan to assess perfectionism cognitions regarding personal standards, pursuit of perfection, and concern over mistakes. In this study, we examined reliability and validity of the English version of the MPCI, the MPCI–E (Kobori, 2006), in a sample of 371 native English speakers. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the MPCI–E's 3-factorial oblique structure. Moreover, correlations with measures of dispositional perfectionism and past-week positive and negative affect provided initial evidence of the MPCI–E's convergent and differential validity. Finally, hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that the MPCI–E showed incremental validity in explaining variance in positive and negative affect above variance explained by dispositional perfectionism. Overall, the findings provide initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the MPCI–E as a multidimensional measure of perfectionism cognitions that has the potential to further the understanding of positive and negative cognitions in perfectionism.

Leung, Cynthia; Tsang, Sandra K. M.

doi: 10.1080/00223890903379209pmid: 20013453

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS; Berry & Jones, 1995) with Chinese parents. Participants included 162 parents recruited through primary schools and 38 parents with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Rasch analysis results indicated that 2 items were outside the accepted fit statistics range and that the Likert scale response categories were not functioning properly. We identified a reduced 16-item scale with 5 categories as unidimensional, with a person reliability of .86; the Likert scale response categories worked well. The revised PSS correlated with measures of child behavior and parenting stress and could differentiate between the 2 groups of parents.

Stern, Barry L.; Caligor, Eve; Clarkin, John F.; Critchfield, Kenneth L.; Horz, Susanne; MacCornack, Verna; Lenzenweger, Mark F.; Kernberg, Otto F.

doi: 10.1080/00223890903379308pmid: 20013454

In this article, we describe the development and preliminary psychometric properties of the Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO), a semistructured interview designed for the dimensional assessment of identity, primitive defenses, and reality testing, the three primary content domains in the model of personality health and disorder elaborated by Kernberg (1984; Kernberg & Caligor, 2005). Results of this investigation, conducted in a clinical sample representing a broad range of personality pathology, indicate that identity and primitive defenses as operationalized in the STIPO are internally consistent and that interrater reliability for all 3 content domains is adequate. Validity findings suggest that the assessment of one's sense of self and significant others (Identity) is predictive of measures of positive and negative affect, whereas the maladaptive ways in which the subject uses his or her objects for purposes of regulating one's self experience (Primitive Defenses) is predictive of measures of aggression and personality disorder traits associated with cluster B personality disorders. We discuss implications of these findings in terms of the theory-driven and trait-based assessment of personality pathology.

Osman, Augustine; Gutierrez, Peter M.; Smith, Kimberly; Fang, Qijuan; Lozano, Gregorio; Devine, Aimee

doi: 10.1080/00223890903379332pmid: 20013455

We investigated the factor structure, reliability estimates, and correlates of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3 (ASI–3; Taylor et al., 2007) in 2 studies. We established a bifactor model in Study 1 as an alternative representation of the structure of the ASI–3. Analyses of gender differences on the total ASI–3 and subscale scores were not statistically significant (Study 1, N = 462). In Study 2 (N = 293), results of a series of confirmatory factor analyses provided stronger support for the fit of the bifactor model compared with 2 alternative models. Estimates of scale reliability were adequate (all ρ values ≥ .80) and not “p” (as in italic p for significance). in the 2 studies. In addition, using simultaneous regression analyses, we found anxiety-specific correlates for the total ASI–3 and subscale scores to include responses on self-report measures of interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive–compulsive anxiety, paranoid ideation, and phobic anxiety.

Maïano, Christophe; Morin, Alexandre J. S.; Eklund, Robert C.; Monthuy-Blanc, Johana; Garbarino, Jean-Marie; Stephan, Yannick

doi: 10.1080/00223890903381809pmid: 20013456

We conducted a series of studies to investigate the psychometric properties of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart, Leary, & Rejeski, 1989) among a total sample of 1,563 nonclinical French adolescents. The, first study provided support for the item content of the preliminary version of the French SPAS for adolescents. Then, the second study supported the convergent validity of the English and French version of the SPAS. Finally, Studies 3 to 6 provided support for the factor validity, measurement invariance (across genders, age groups and samples), latent mean structure invariance (across age category and samples), reliability, convergent validity, and criterion-related validity of a 7-item version of the SPAS.

Cyders, Melissa A.; Smith, Gregory T.

doi: 10.1080/00223890903381825pmid: 20013457

Research has identified 2 emotion-based dispositions to rash action, referred to as positive urgency and negative urgency. They are thought to reflect tendencies to engage in rash acts when in extremely positive and extremely negative moods, respectively. In this article, we describe the first direct test of this hypothesis. We measured the urgency traits and risky behavior involvement while in extremely positive and negative moods over the course of the first year of college for 292 students. After controlling for sex, typical mood state, and prior mood-based rash behavior, positive urgency predicted increases in positive mood-based rash action, and negative urgency predicted increases in negative mood-based rash action during the first year of college. These results provide further evidence for the validity of the theory of emotion-based rash action and for the measures of positive and negative urgency.

Verdejo-García, Antonio; Lozano, Óscar; Moya, Maribel; Alcázar, Miguel Ángel; Pérez-García, Miguel

doi: 10.1080/00223890903382369pmid: 20013458

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct central to several forms of psychopathology. Recently, Lynam, Smith, Whiteside, and Cyders (2006) developed the UPPS–P scale, a multidimensional inventory that assesses 5 personality pathways contributing to impulsive behavior: negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, sensation seeking, and positive urgency. In this study, we aimed (a) to analyze the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the UPPS–P scale and (b) to explore the relationship between the different dimensions of the UPPS–P scale and conceptually related constructs including trait measures derived from different models of impulsive personality (the Gray's [1987] and Plutchik's [1984] models) and a state measure of cognitive impulsivity, the Delay-Discounting Test (Kirby, Petry, & Bickel, 1999). We administered the UPPS–P scale along with the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (Torrubia, Avila, Molto, & Caseras, 2001), the Plutchik Impulsivity Scale (Plutchik & Van Praag, 1989), and the Delay-Discounting Test to a sample of 150 undergraduate students. Results showed that the Spanish adaptation of the UPPS–P scale have appropriate psychometric properties. Different dimensions of the UPPS–P were differentially associated with predicted conceptually related constructs. We conclude that the Spanish adaptation of the UPPS–P scale is a useful instrument for fine-grained assessment of impulsivity in Spanish-speaking adult population.

Del Giudice, Matthew J.

doi: 10.1080/00223890903382385pmid: 20013459

In this article, I review the empirical status of the Rorschach as it relates to potential use of the instrument in personnel selection procedures. As part of this review, I outline developing trends in personnel selection practices, discuss the Rorschach literature relevant to organizational performance, and weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using the instrument in this capacity. Based on this analysis, I argue that the Rorschach may represent a unique and potentially valuable tool for assessing personality as part of comprehensive personnel selection procedures. I conclude with a proposed trajectory for Rorschach research intended to better determine the instrument's viability in organizational settings.