Lecture 9 - Psychometric evaluation of psychopathology

Question 1

If screening is binary, latent trait estimation is…

Answer 1

… continuous

Question 2

Refresher: Define the purpose of screening test

Answer 2

To identify cases that warrant further clinical examination

Question 3

TRUE or FALSE

Construct validity is very important for screening test, but not for latent trait estimation

Answer 3

FALSE

It’s the other way around

Question 4

What are TWO examples of tests that fall in the middle of the spectrum between screening tests and latent trait estimation?

Answer 4

1. Symptom Checklist 90 (SL-90)
2. SPECTRA indices of psychopathology

Question 5

TRUE or FALSE

The SPECTRA fits into hierarchical and dimensional models of psychopathology

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

What are the THREE spectra within the SPECTRA?

Answer 6

1. Internalising
2. Reality-impairing
3. Externalising

Question 7

Refresher: What are the standard reliability thresholds?

Answer 7

> .90 for high stakes

> .80 is desirable

> .70 is acceptable

Question 8

Is the SPECTRA normed against a clinical or general population?

Answer 8

General population

Question 9

What type of score does the SPECTRA use?

And what are the cut offs for clinically elevated and sub-clinical elevation?

Answer 9

T scores

Clinically elevated = T > 70

Sub clinical elevation = T > 60

Question 10

What are the TWO inbuilt validity measures within the SPECTRA?

Answer 10

1. Infrequency (INF)
2. Profile classification index (PCI) - virtually no-one has a score above 70 two of the SPECTRA

Question 11

What type of scores does the PIA use?

Answer 11

T scores

Question 12

What would be considered a “moderately elevated” score on the INF validity scale of the PAI?

What would be considered “highly elevated”?

Answer 12

Moderate: T = 60-74 (caution)

High T = >74 (invalid)

Question 13

What does the PAI validity scale ICN measure?

Answer 13

The correlation between similar items.

(It stands for inconsistency)

Question 14

What is an example of a question asked in the NIM validity scale PAI?

Answer 14

“Sometimes I cannot remember who I am”

Question 15

What would be considered a “moderately elevated” score on the NIM validity scale of the PAI?

What would be considered “highly elevated”?

Answer 15

Moderate: T = 73-91

High = >91 (as in greater than or equal to 92)

Question 16

What is an example of a question asked in the PIM validity scale of the PAI ?

Answer 16

“I have many brilliant ideas”

Question 17

What would be considered a “highly elevated” score on the PIM validity scale of the PAI?

Answer 17

High: T >76 (greater than or equal to 77)

Question 18

Using PAI outputs, what is the “NES indicator” (Wagner et al) used to identify?

Answer 18

Functional seizure patients