The controversy regarding diagnostic criteria for early myoclonic encephalopathy

To re-evaluate the diagnostic criteria for early myoclonic encephalopathy (EME), the following study was done. During the past 2 years, five patients with erratic, fragmentary myoclonus of neonatal onset, in association with other types of seizures, were analyzed with regard to etiologies, electroclinical features and their evolution, using a series of examinations including electroencephalographies (EEGs) and metabolic investigations. Of these five patients, three were diagnosed to have non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH); one was pyridoxine-dependent; the other was cryptogenic. Only two cases (one NKH and one cryptogenic) had initial typical suppression-burst (S-B) EEG pattern, which subsequently evolved into multiple paroxysmal abnormalities with random asynchronous attenuation (MP-AA) pattern. The other two cases with NKH had MP-AA EEG pattern throughout both awake and sleep recordings in two consecutive EEG studies. All three cases with NKH survived with increasing microcephaly, muscle tonicity; all developed infantile spasm with hypsarrhythmia on EEGs. The patient with pyridoxine-dependency had an initial MP-AA EEG pattern, which converted into S-B pattern after the first use of pyridoxine, eventually becoming normal after a supplement with the second-dose of pyridoxine. In conclusion, either S-B or MP-AA pattern may reflect the severity of the underlying pathologies or the disease stages. These results suggest that, from both etiological and electroclinical viewpoints, EME may represent a broader spectrum than previously recognized. The still ongoing controversy regarding whether the S-B pattern should be recognized as the sole EEG criteria for the diagnosis of EME needs further experience to clarify.     

Must All Tests Be Valid?

Comments on the article "Must All Tests Be Valid?" by R. L. Ebel (see record 1962-05654-001.) The author finds Ebel's conclusions provocative, but open to disagreement and proposes that: (a) validity is not a confusing concept which needs to be replaced; (b) the standard of meaningfulness is not new, but only a necessary element of validity; and (c) meaningfulness is not a suitable substitute for traditional predictive validity. The author of this comment concludes that meaningfulness is not a substitute for validity, although validity does not exclude Ebel's meaningfulness, which is, in fact, a well defined part of what is meant by validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Must all tests be valid?

Validity "is universally praised, but the good works done in its name are remarkably few… . The basic difficulty in validating many tests arises, we believe, not from inadequate criteria but from logical and operational limitations of the concept of validity itself." 4 indications of difficulty with the concept of validity are specified and bases for these problems are considered. "We would suggest that meaningfulness replace validity in the usual lists of major desirable characteristics of a measuring instrument." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4AE40E. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some effects of combining psychological tests on clinical inferences.

The study was designed to determine whether the reliability and validity of interpretations based on 3 frequently used psychological tests—Rorschach, TAT, MMPI—increased as a function of number of tests employed. 30 clinical psychologists completed personality questionnaires describing 5 Ss on the basis of identifying data alone, each test individually, pairs of tests, and all 3 combined. Reliability and validity did not increase as a function of number of tests, nor were there any differences between tests or pairs of tests. The validity scores for test data ranged from 66% to 73%, with a Mean of 68%. The reliability scores ranged from 56% to 72%, with a Mean of 64%. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity versus reliability.

After reviewing recent studies involving the selection of items for interest scales, in which scales with higher validity (and fewer items) generally had lower reliability, the author presents the original odd-even reliabilities and recently-collected test-retest reliabilities (over an average 18-year interval) for 15 scales of the Strong VIB. The test-retest reliabilities were all lower than the odd-even reliabilities, and the shrinkage was greatest for those scales with the lowest original reliabilities. It is concluded that, for prediction in the distant future, scale reliability is important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Static structuralism.

R. L. Ebel (see record 1962-05654-001) examines present concepts regarding test validity and comes to the conclusion that psychologists concerned with this problem are asking essentially unanswerable questions. This startling point of view is bolstered by evidence that many useful tests do not have adequate validity data published in their support and that reviewers of tests seem unconcerned by the lack of such data. Ebel then courageously calls into question the accepted "face validity" of the concept of validity and suggests that the meaningfulness of a test be substituted as a criterion. In a later issue of this journal, Jordan (see record 2005-11890-001) and Skager (see record 2005-11890-002), react. Skager is conservative and implies that the problem is a technical one. For him, the correct questions to be asked are known. Problems occur because we fail to ask the obvious and familiar question regarding validity or because technique is insufficiently developed to generate measures with adequate validity but then we know our limitations. Jordan points out that Ebel's suggestion of substituting meaningfulness for validity begs the question. He argues that meaningfulness rests on an appropriate theoretical analysis of the problem which must precede measurement operations and that, if the theoretical analysis is meaningful and valid, the measurement operations will follow of their own accord. The merit of Ebel's paper is that he calls into question glib pronunciamentos that have characterized the theory of test construction. He is aware that something is amiss and implicates the validity issue. Skager clings to the traditional approach and, in effect, denies the problem. Jordan agrees that the problem exists and pinpoints the area of difficulty but neither he nor the other writers suggest the explicit theoretical contents that may give rise to the whole problem in the first place. I would like to suggest that the real culprit is that dominant theoretical bias, more or less explicit in most test construction, which I will term "static structuralism." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development and validation of a test of creativity in engineering.

"Two forms of a 20-item test of creativity were developed through analyses of item response data of 345 engineering students at Purdue University. Three scores were developed for the test: Fluency score, Flexibility score, and Originality score. Investigations of the validity, reliability, interscorer agreement, relationships with other tests, and 'face validity' of the Creativity scores were made with 64 product development engineers and process engineers in a large automobile accessories manufacturing company." Significant validity was found (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proposed scoring changes for the Strong Vocational Interest Blank.

A study of the effect of replacing with new items 102 items in the current SVIB on the validity and reliability of the SVIB. 8 occupational groups were used. The results showed that the validity and reliability remained essentially the same after dropping the items. Also, the weighting system of the SVIB was compared with scales using unit weights. The results indicated that the unit weights keys were virtually identical to the weighted keys on 3 criteria: validity, reliability, and scale intercorrelations. Thus, the SVIB when revised should be scored using unit weight scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation de la version fran?aise du Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ).

The objective of this study was to get a valid and reliable French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (Hall & Pongrac, 1983). Using a sample of 127 men and 68 women, the results showed that the French version had construct validity and reliability comparable to those found with the English version. The findings suggest that level of practice, duration of practice, sex, and nature of practice are factors that should be integrated in future studies in order to improve predictive validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A language aptitude test for blind students.

3 studies are reported which assess the validity of sub-tests of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) modified for use with blind students of a foreign language. 2 studies involved blind students preselected with the test to study Russian at Georgetown University. Many of the validity coefficients were not significant, however, the distributions were so curtailed, that it is probable that the tests would be useful predictors in situations where students were not selected. Results of the other study, conducted with blind high school students, supported these results. 3 subtests, Words in Sentences, Number Learning, and Spelling Clues, were generally the best predictors of achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation d'une traduction fran?aise d'un instrument de mesure des réponses affectoves á la premiére relation sexuelle avec pénétration.

Tested the validity of a self-questionnaire (D. L. Weis; 1983) measuring the affective responses to the first sexual intercourse with a sample of 198 French-Canadian women. This study also explores the affective responses to the first sexual relation with penetration within this same group. Ss answered experimental and original versions of the questionnaire. Results show consistency between cues of content validity and concomitant validity of the original version and the French version, a noticeable temporal stability and a high internal consistency. Results also show the accuracy of the French translation and the validity of the questionnaire on the affective responses to the first sexual relation with penetration. A copy of the French version of the questionnaire is appended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The water-jar Einstellung test as a measure of rigidity.

"The primary purpose of the present paper is to examine the validity of the water-jar test as a rigidity measure by critically reviewing studies involving its use as such an index." Correlations between the water-jar test (WJT) and numerous criterion measures are generally statistically nonsignificant. On the basis of several studies it is tentatively concluded that a low negative correlation between the WJT and intelligence exists. The notion that rigidity increases under stress is not supported by the research evidence. The author concludes that evidence for the validity of the WJT is lacking and that the WJT, from a psychometric point of view, is poor. 59 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Lowry test: A simple status-free measure of intellectual ability.

The validity of an intelligence test is discussed. "The Lowry Reasoning Test Combination has been found to be relatively free of social status bias and to measure intellectual function. It is easily administered and simply scored and does not depend upon a high level of verbal ability. Variance in concept difficulty is obtained by altering combinations of constructs while keeping the verbal material on a uniformly simple level. Whereever such a discriminative and effective selection device is needed the present writers would recommend that the Lowry test be tried." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A conceptual framework for the clinical test situation.

The need to account for the adaptive behavior of the patient in the clinical test situation is discussed with respect to the relative rather than absolute nature of test responses. Adaptation-level (AL) theory is proposed as a framework of reference for adaptive behavior of the patient in the clinical situation, as well as for clinical judgment and prediction. The theory of AL possesses the relativity and operational validity required for dealing with complex clinical phenomena. Implications of the AL model for clinical theory, experimentation, and practice are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Inferences from personnel tests and their validity": Correction to Lawshe.

Reports an error in "Inferences from personnel tests and their validity" by C. H. Lawshe (Journal of Applied Psychology, 1985[Feb], Vol 70[1], 237-238). On page 238, line 4, the word "each" appears and should be "such." The sentence will, therefore, refer "to the use of such cognitive processes as inductive and deductive reasoning and such characteristics of temperament as emotional stability and self-esteem." (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1985-16032-001.) Contends that despite clear definitions in standard sources, psychologists persistently refer to the validity of tests instead of the validity of inferences from test scores. This persistence leads to references to "kinds of validity" when, in fact, there are "kinds of validity analysis strategies" whereby data are collected or generated to determine or defend the extent, degree, or strength of the inference or inferences that can be made from a set of test scores. It is concluded that content validity analysis strategies are appropriate only when the job behavior under scrutiny falls at the observation end of the continuum; when such behavior approaches the abstract end of the continuum, a construct validity analysis strategy is indicated. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview (SASII): Development, reliability, and validity of a scale to assess suicide attempts and intentional self-injury.

The authors describe the development of the Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview (SASII), an instrument designed to assess the factors involved in nonfatal suicide attempts and intentional self-injury. Using 4 cohorts of participants, authors generated SASII items and evaluated them with factor and content analyses and internal consistency statistics. The final measure was assessed for reliability and validity with collateral measures. The SASII assesses variables related to method, lethality and impulsivity of the act, likelihood of rescue, suicide intent or ambivalence and other motivations, consequences, and habitual self-injury. The SASII was found to have very good interrater reliability and adequate validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the adequacy of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT): A reply to Snart, Dennis, and Brailsford.

Replies to comments by Snart, Dennis, and Brailsford (see record 1984-02928-001) voicing concerns about the validity of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT). They have concluded that the WRAT overestimates the performance of Canadian children. They have also noted that the WRAT measures only word recognition and that word recognition is overemphasized as a measure of "reading." The present author addresses what are seen to be "fundamental" problems with their arguments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between item ambiguity and discriminating power in a forced-choice scale.

"(a) In questionnaire format, Ambiguous statements were more valid than either Positive or Negative statements for differentiating college achievers from non-achievers. (b) In general, the validity of Ambiguous items either held up or increased in forced-choice format. (c) The 12-tetrad inventory consisting almost exclusively of Ambiguous items was found to have substantial reliability and validity for the purpose used, and did not appear to lend itself to willful misrepresentation on the part of the subjects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)