Work

Extreme Response Style and the Measurement of Intra-Individual Variability in Affect

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Extreme response style (ERS) has the potential to bias the measurement of intra-individual variability in psychological constructs. This paper explores such bias through a multilevel extension of a latent trait model for modeling response styles applied to repeated measures rating scale data. Modeling responses to multi-item scales of positive and negative affect collected from smokers at clinic visits following a smoking cessation attempt revealed considerable ERS bias in the intra-individual sum score variances. In addition, simulation studies suggest the magnitude and direction of bias due to ERS is heavily dependent on the mean affect level, supporting a model-based approach to the study and control of ERS effects. Application of the proposed model-based adjustment is found to improve intra-individual variability as a predictor of smoking cessation.

Source: Multivariate Behavioral Research

DOI: 10.1080/00273171.2017.1413636

Authors: Sien Deng, Danielle E. McCarthy, Megan E. Piper, Timothy B. Baker, Daniel M. Bolt

Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Psychometric Methodologies and Testing

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Cancer Institute