Rebuttal to and constructive comments on "Construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale."

Responds to a claim by M. F. Schwartz and J. R. Graham (see record 1980-02442-001) that they have further established the construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC). Several questions are raised regarding the design of the study and treatment of the data on which conclusions are drawn. It is proposed that the major problem rests with the discrete dichotomous nature of the response categories of the MAC and the improper analysis of the response data in the study being critiqued. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adolescent responses to the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale.

Compared the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) scores of 306 13–28 yr olds from 4 groups: (1) 76 female and 59 male high school students, (2) 43 female and 47 male inpatient psychiatry patients, (3) 43 female and 38 male outpatient psychiatry and psychology clinic patients, and (4) 50 female and 50 male randomly selected clients at a residential center for drug abuse. Results show differences in mean male and female MAC scores and similarities between mean scores of females in Groups 1–3. Females in Group 4 scored significantly higher. Results further show significant differences in mean scores between males in Groups 1 and 3 and males in Group 4. It is suggested that the cutting score for females should be equal to or greater than 24, while for males it should be equal to or greater than 26. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial variations on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale of the MMPI.

The present investigation examined the effect of race on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) performance of alcoholic and nonalcoholic inpatients in an active-duty military sample. Black and white alcoholics performed similarly on the MAC in terms of mean score and accuracy of identification by cutting scores. Black nonalcoholics scored significantly higher than white nonalcoholics on the MAC. The MAC was found to discriminate successfully between white alcoholics and nonalcoholics (66.3%) but not between black alcoholics and nonalcoholics (55.5%). The inability of the MAC to discriminate between black alcoholics and nonalcoholics in an active-duty military sample suggests caution in its use with black patients in this setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity and the Taylor Anxiety Scale.

"The intent of this paper has been to emphasize the directive role of theory in the construction of psychological tests." The several methodological issues arising from the use of theory in test construction are illustrated through a critical examination of the Taylor Anxiety Scale. "Our conclusion was that the A scale has only a tenuous, theoretical and empirical coordination to the Hullian construct of drive." 31 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodological issues and the construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale: A response to the rebuttal and constructive comments of Merenda and Sparadeo.

Responds to the criticisms by P. F. Merenda and F. Sparadeo (see record 1982-04761-001) on the present authors' study (see record 1980-02442-001) of the construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale. It is felt that although some of their statistical concerns have merit, they have overemphasized the practical importance of these concerns and have overlooked other important findings. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity study of the Racial Identity Attitude Scale.

In the present study, we examined the construct validity of the Racial Identity Attitude Scale (RIAS; Parham & Helms, 1981), an instrument designed to measure attitudes consistent with the four stages of Cross's (1971) Negro-to-Black conversion experience. Black students (N?=?186) from two geographically dispersed, predominantly white university campuses served as subjects. Using oblique factor analytic methods and examining alternative factor solutions, we found strong support for Cross's constructs known as the pre-encounter, immersion–emersion, and internalization stages. Little statistical support was found for the construct of encounter stage as represented in the RIAS items. The difficulty in discerning the encounter stage in terms of attitude items is noted, and suggestions for future research on the RIAS and on the Cross model are given. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of the Rorschach Oral Dependency Scale: 1967–1995.

A review of research examining the construct validity of J. M. Masling, L. Rabie, and S. H. Blondheim's (1967) Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) scale as a measure of interpersonal dependency revealed that this scale has demonstrated good interrater reliability, and that evidence regarding the convergent and discriminant validity of the ROD scale is generally strong. Mixed results have been obtained in studies assessing the internal reliability of ROD scale scores. There have been very few studies examining the predictive validity and retest reliability of the ROD scale, and few studies assessing the relationship of ROD scores to scores on other objective and projective measures of dependency. Implications of these findings for laboratory and clinical research involving the ROD scale are discussed, and suggestions for future studies in this area are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence and Wide Range Intelligence Test: Convergent and structural validity.

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI; Psychological Corporation, 1999) and the Wide Range Intelligence Test (WRIT; Glutting, Adams, & Sheslow, 2000) are two well-normed brief measures of general intelligence with subtests purportedly assessing verbal–crystallized abilities and nonverbal–fluid–visual abilities. With a sample of 152 children, adolescents, and adults, the present study reports meaningful convergent validity coefficients and a latent factor structure consistent with the theoretical intellectual models both tests were constructed to reflect. Consideration of the hierarchical model of intelligence tests and issues regarding test interpretation are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The MMPI—2 Antisocial Practices Content Scale: Construct validity and comparison with the Psychopathic Deviate Scale.

Little is known regarding the construct validity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 Antisocial Practices (ASP) content scale or its differences from the Psychopathic Deviate (Pd) scale. In 3 studies with undergraduates (Ns?=?95, 110, and 100), the ASP scale exhibited convergent and discriminant validity with self-report, interview, family history, and observer measures of psychopathy, personality disorders, and personality traits. The ASP and Pd scales had many similar correlates, but the ASP scale correlated more positively with measures of Machiavellianism and more negatively with interviewer-rated honesty than the Pd scale. The ASP scale demonstrated incremental validity over and above the Pd scale for global indexes of psychopathy and antisocial behavior. Neither scale related highly to the absence of stress and interpersonal anxiety characteristic of psychopathy. The ASP and Pd scales, although overlapping in content, appear to measure somewhat different facets of the psychopathy construct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliability, validity, and normative data for a short version of the Understanding of Alcoholism Scale.

In this psychometric study, the authors evaluated a scale measuring treatment staff members' (n?=?329) beliefs about the nature and treatment of substance abuse problems. This scale, the Short Understanding of Substance Abuse Scale (SUSS), is based on the work of Moyers (1991; T. B. Moyers & W. R. Miller, 1993) and assesses staff members' endorsement of disease, psychosocial learning, and eclectic treatment orientations. Data presented in this article support the reliability of subscales that, for ease of administration, have been shortened from T. B. Moyers and W. R. Miller's original version. Evidence suggests that the SUSS has convergent and discriminant validity and is not affected by a yea-saying response bias. SUSS norms for different types of substance abuse treatment staff are presented, and suggestions for further applications and improvements of the measure are put forward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of in-basket scores.

This article reports a study of the construct validity of in-baskets designed to measure managerial abilities. Data were collected using randomized pretest–posttest experimental design with two alternate in-basket forms. Results indicated that (1) there was little convergent validity and evidence of method bias both within and between alternate in-basket forms and (2) brief training improved in-basket performance on the perceptiveness and delegation dimensions and on overall performance. Both lines of evidence call into question the validity of inferring individual differences in managerial ability from in-basket scores. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity: Construct representation versus nomothetic span.

Presents a new approach to construct validation research: construct modeling. A paradigm shift from functionalism to structuralism in psychology permits 2 types of research to be separated. Construct representation is concerned with identifying the theoretical mechanisms that underlie responses, such as information processes, strategies, and knowledge stores. Three approaches to assessing construct representation are presented: (1) mathematical modeling, particularly as used in cognitive psychology; (2) psychometric modeling, as exemplified by latent trait modeling; and (3) multicomponent latent trait modeling. Nomothetic span is concerned with the network of relationships of a test score with other variables. These 2 types of construct validation research address different issues and require different types of data. For each type of construct validation research, appropriate methods and quantitative models are presented to test a priori hypotheses about construct validity. Examples are presented, and the construct modeling approach is compared with both the traditional psychometric approach and the information-processing approach to establishing theoretical mechanisms in performance. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity and the predictability of behavior.

Recurring assessment problems in personality research related to the cross-situational consistency and predictability of behavior are evaluated in light of modern construct-oriented measurement theory. A recent study of the domain of conscientiousness behaviors (Mischel & Peake, 1982) is used to illustrate the consequences of not applying well-established strategies for the development and validation of psychological measures. It is argued that a careful specification of the behavioral exemplars of a trait domain and their interrelations is an essential precondition for the construct validity of a measure and for evidence of behavioral consistency. A reanalysis of the observational data of Mischel and Peake revealed conceptually and empirically identifiable facets of the domain of conscientiousness and, when behaviors were properly aggregated, substantial evidence of their construct validity and cross-situational generality. This finding is contrary to interpretations of Mischel and Peake and occurred despite several definitional and measurement problems identified in their study. Conditions contributing to the prediction of behavior across situations are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity and social desirability.

Comments on the article by R. Hogan and R. A. Nicholson (see record 1989-00097-001) on the construct validity of personality tests and argues that Hogan and Nicholson attributed to A. L. Edwards (1953) conclusions that Edwards never made, concerning the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the influence of social desirability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity: A Critique.

"The renaming of the process of building a theory of behavior by the new term 'construct validity' contributes nothing to the understanding of the process nor to the usefulness of the concepts. The introduction into discussion of psychological theorizing of the aspects of construct validity discussed… creates, at best, unnecessary confusion and at worst, a nonempirical, nonscientific approach to the study of behavior." Terminology of logical behaviorism and techniques of an "operational methodology" are preferred. "It is… recommended that the formulation of construct validity, as presented in the several papers noted in this critique, be eliminated from further consideration as a way of speaking about psychological concepts, laws, and theories." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity in psychological tests.

"Construct validation was introduced in order to specify types of research required in developing tests for which the conventional views on validation are inappropriate. Personality tests, and some tests of ability, are interpreted in terms of attributes for which there is no adequate criterion. This paper indicates what sorts of evidence can substantiate such an interpretation, and how such evidence is to be interpreted." 60 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity for the evaluation of therapy outcomes.

Evaluation is a matter of judging conformity to certain values and the judgment of how healthy or diseased a person is. The 1st step in doing outcome evaluation studies of psychotherapy is to choose a reference group or public and find out what its relevant values are. Patients, clients, sponsors, and therapists constitute 4 such publics with somewhat different values. Probable value criteria for these publics are proposed and the problems of defining and collecting valid data for these criteria are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of the Least Preferred Co-Worker score.

Reviews research using the Least Preferred Co-Worker (LPC) Scale to develop the nomological network defining the construct space of LPC. Four general categories of research are reviewed: (a) attitudes held by high- and low-LPC persons, (b) observable behaviors engaged in by high- and low-LPC persons, (c) reactions of other group members to high- and low-LPC persons, and (d) determinants of responses to the LPC Scale. The review provides documentation for F. E. Fiedler's proposition that low-LPC persons are task oriented and high-LPC persons are relationship oriented. A value–attitude interpretation of LPC is offered to interpret this task–interpersonal distinction. The value–attitude interpretation is explicitly compared with previous efforts to interpret LPC. (116 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of measures of college teaching effectiveness.

Compared evaluation form, student, colleague, trained observer, former student, and self-rating teacher assessments of 43 university instructors. Data show that student and former student ratings displayed substantially greater validity coefficients of teaching effectiveness than self-report, colleague, and trained observer ratings. Advantages of student rating techniques (i.e., greater exposure to instructor's teaching), various teaching assessment methods, and problems in the literature due to limitations of research approaches typically used are discussed. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity, censorship, and the genetics of race.

Responds to the critique by A. H. Yee et al (see record 1994-09250-001) of J. P. Rushton's (see PA, Vols 78:20578 and 80:40406) work on the biological differences among human races. Because of the failure of anthropologists and geneticists to define the term race, Yee et al imply that Rushton's work is at best unreliable. Rushton asserts that official regulation of the scientific concept of race, as recommended by Yee et al, would threaten free inquiry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)