Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Inventory of Personality Organization-Reality Testing Subscale

Abstract

The reality testing dimension of the Inventory of Personality Organization, the IPO-RT, has emerged as an important index of proneness to reality testing deficits. However, to date few studies have examined the factorial structure of the IPO-RT in isolation. This is an important and necessary development because studies use the IPO-RT as a discrete measure. Additionally, psychometric evaluation of the IPO suggests alternative factorial solutions. Specifically, recent work supports multidimensionality, whereas initial IPO assessment evinced a unidimensional structure. Accordingly, this study, using a heterogeneous sample (N = 652), tested the fit of several factorial models (one-factor, four-factor oblique, second-order, and bifactor) via maximum likelihood with bootstrapping due to multivariate non-normality. Analysis revealed superior fit for the bifactor solution (correlated errors) (CFI = 0.965, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.042). This model comprised a general reality testing dimension alongside four subfactors (auditory and visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, social deficits, and confusion). Inter-factor correlations were in the moderate range. Item loadings and omega reliability supported the notion that the IPO-RT emphasizes a single latent construct. The model demonstrated invariance across gender and partial age invariance. Overall, from a psychometric perspective, the IPO-RT functioned effectively at both global and, to an extent, factorial levels. Findings recommend that the IPO-RT should be scored as a total scale, and rather than treat subscales independently, future studies should consider examining factor variance alongside overall scale scores.

Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, and Sleep Paralysis: Associations With Reality Testing Deficits and Paranormal Experience/Belief

“…Subsequent psychometric evaluation of the IPO-RT by Dagnall et al (2018) confirmed the presence of a bifactor structure consisting of a general dimension encompassing the four distinct, but inter-correlated sub-factors. Consideration of the role that sub-factors of reality testing play in lucid dreaming provides a more precise, fine-grained understanding of the cognitive-perceptual conditions involved in lucid dreams.…”

“…Confirmatory factor analysis occurred for each selected scale. Research indicates that Auditory and Visual Hallucinations is an intercorrelated but distinct unidimensional subfactor of IPO-RT (Dagnall et al, 2018). Paranormal experience also comprised one factor because the variable derived from experiences that were similar in theme and response scale.…”

Conspiracist beliefs, intuitive thinking, and schizotypal facets: A further evaluation

“…Higher scores indicate propensity to reality testing deficits. Previous research has established that the IPO‐RT is psychometrically robust (Dagnall et al, 2018). In the current study, high internal consistency existed for the IPO‐RT ( α = .95).…”

Psychometric assessment of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale

“…These were the only exclusion criteria. Researchers have successfully employed data PLOS ONE amalgamation to generate large composite samples in order to evaluate scale structure and integrity [53][54][55][56].…”