Urbano Lorenzo

A psychometric study of the Test Anxiety Scale for Children in a Spanish sample

Abstract A Spanish adaptation of the Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC) was administered to a sample of 1022 primary school children. The dimensionality and structure and gender differences of the adaptation were assessed and its criteria-related validity was compared with the Revised Children MAS and the EPQ-J N scale. The results were related to previous findings and show that the properties of the Spanish version are similar to those of the well known original version.

Dimensional analysis of the EPQ-R Lie scale with a Spanish sample : Gender differences and relations to N, E, and P

Abstract A Spanish translation of the 21-item Lie scale included in the EPQ-R was administered to a group of 2026 university undergraduates. The plausibility of the bifactorial structure proposed by Pearson and Francis (Pearson and Francis, Personality and Individual Differences, 10, 1989, 1041–1048) instead of the originally assumed unifactorial structure was assessed using a specific factor analytic model for binary data. Factor structures, as well as total scale scores, were compared for males and females. Relations with N, E, and P dimensions were studied in the male, female and total samples. Results suggest that the unifactorial structure seems more appropriate and that this structure is essentially invariant across gender.

WPerfit: A Program for Computing Parametric Person-Fit Statistics and Plotting Person Response Curves.

A program is described for computing different person-fit measures under different parametric item response models for binary items. The indices computed are the standardized log-likelihood index lz, the standardized extended caution index ECI4z, and the chi-square statistic of Trabin and Weiss. These indices can be computed for the Rasch model and the two- and three-parameter logistic models. The program can plot person response curves, which allow the researcher to investigate the kind of nonfitting response behavior that is present in examinees who are detected as inconsistent.

TH-SCORE: A Program for Obtaining Ability Estimates Under Different Psychometric Models

A program for obtaining ability estimates and their standard errors under a variety of psychometric models is documented. The general models considered are (a) classical test theory, (b) item factor analysis for continuous-unlimited and continuous-censored responses, and (c) unidimensional and multidimensional item response theory (IRT) graded response models, which include models for binary items as particular cases. The program can be used to complement the various programs that are available commercially and that enable item parameters to be estimated.

FACOM: A library for relating solutions obtained in exploratory factor analysis

A library for comparing factorial solutions obtained in exploratory analyses is presented. The procedure allows both orthogonal and oblique solutions to be compared by computing several indices. The library is controlled with interactive menus or programs.

Envejecer sin ver: evaluación del ajuste a la pérdida visual sobrevenida en la vejez

INTRODUCTION The adjustment process to visual impairment can be approached by using theoretical models. The key variables in these models are usually measured by using psychometric instruments. The measurements can be taken from those already existing for the general population or be specifically designed for the visually impaired population. If the chosen measurements are reasonably valid and behave as the model predicts, they can be further used for designing programs that improve the process of adjusting. We describe the identification, adaptation and validation of some theses measurements. METHOD We selected the psychometrics instruments to be used in the research: the Age-Related Vision Loss Scale (AVL) by Horowitz and Reinhardt; the Nottingham Adjustment Scale (NAS) by Dodds, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) by Brink and Yesavage. The AVL and NAS were adapted for use in Spain. The referred measurements were applied to a sample of 335 respondents together with the Scale of Subjective Wellbeing (EBS), and their psychometric properties were assessed. RESULTS The estimated reliabilities were: AVL (0.80), NASA2 (0.87), NASB (0.81), NASC (0.75), NASE (0.87), GDS (0.90). The relationships between the measurements were all in the expected direction, and the magnitude of the convergent-validity coefficients was considered as acceptable. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggests that the available measurements discussed above are appropriate for assessing the adjustment process, and are useful tools for individual assessment, as well as for designing intervention programs. All the measurements are available in computerized form in www.proyectotarragona.es.

NFACOM: A new program for relating solutions in exploratory factor analysis

A new version of the program FACOM (comparison of exploratory factor analysis solutions) is presented. The new version (NFACOM) greatly extends the possibilities of the previous versions. It is now possible to use congruence as well as least squares comparisons in both orthogonal and oblique situations. What is more, n solutions, not just two, can be compared. Recently developed algorithms have been implemented; others, which have proved not to be theoretically well founded, have been omitted.