No abstract

The process culminating in the response to an item in a personality inventory affects the value of that response's contribution to test score. Some response components are inappropriate from the examiner's viewpoint. Interrelationships were predicted among inappropriate components of response process, relative locations of subject and item on an underlying trait continuum, and instability of response. The recurrence of inappropriate processes on retest was also predicted. In group administration, subjects indicated whether, in responding to each item, they used any of six inappropriate components. All hypotheses were supported. Thus inappropriate components are a function of the subject as he interprets and reacts to the particular item and also are related to the instability of his response.

In their investigation of the relationship between item properties and test quality, itemmetricians rely too heavily upon inference about the nature of the subject-item interaction. Itemmetric research can be improved by employing data, specifying variables, and selecting an order of data analysis which are more directly related to this interaction. Some predicted relationships among certain item characteristics, response processes, instability of response, and nearness of subject and item on a trait continuum are used to compare the traditional and proposed approaches. Stronger relationships and clearer interpretations arise from the proposed approach.

No abstract

This study attempted to improve test validity by presenting positively keyed items from a single trait in descending order of endorsement and encouraging subjects to respond in terms of the resulting Guttman scale. This approach should explicate trait content and available scale points, thus increasing inter-and intra-subject consistency in responding. In general, the procedure produced increases in internal consistency, and in construct and concurrent validity. Increases in validity were contingent upon increases in internal consistency. Possible time-saving advantages of the ordering procedure are noted.