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Multidimensional forced-choice (FC) questionnaires have been consistently found to reduce the effects of socially desirable responding and faking in noncognitive assessments. Although FC has been considered problematic for providing ipsative scores under the classical test theory, item response theory (IRT) models enable the estimation of nonipsative scores from FC responses. However, while some authors indicate that blocks composed of opposite-keyed items are necessary to retrieve normative scores, others suggest that these blocks may be less robust to faking, thus impairing the assessment validity. Accordingly, this article presents a simulation study to investigate whether it is possible to retrieve normative scores using only positively keyed items in pairwise FC computerized adaptive testing (CAT). Specifically, a simulation study addressed the effect of (a) different bank assembly (with a randomly assembled bank, an optimally assembled bank, and blocks assembled "on-the-fly" considering every possible pair of items), and (b) block selection rules (i.e., T, and Bayesian D and A-rules) over the estimate accuracy and ipsativity and overlap rates. Moreover, different questionnaire lengths (30 and 60) and trait structures (independent or positively correlated) were studied, and a nonadaptive questionnaire was included as baseline in each condition. In general, very good trait estimates were retrieved, despite using only positively keyed items. Although the best trait accuracy and lowest ipsativity were found using the Bayesian A-rule with questionnaires assembled "on-the-fly," the T-rule under this method led to the worst results. This points out to the importance of considering both aspects when designing FC CAT.

The authors analyze and compare the factor convergence and predictive power of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ/SF) with respect to the Five-Factor Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (FFiCD). A total of 803 White Spanish subjects were analyzed. All the personality domains had significant predictive power with regard to the FFiCD except NEO Openness. The explained variance of the personality domains with respect to FFiCD Negative Affectivity (71% and 77%) and Detachment (56% and 56%) were similar for NEO-PI-R and ZKA-PQ/SF, respectively, but the NEO-PI-R accounted for greater variance for FFiCD Anankastia, Dissociality, and Disinhibition. The FFiCD facets of Rashness, Thrill- Seeking (Disinhibition), and Unassertiveness (Detachment) were located in factors other than those theoretically expected. The authors conclude that normal personality measured by the NEO-PI-R and the ZKA-PQ/SF contribute, in a differential but complementary way, to knowledge of the maladaptive personality measured by the FFiCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are two models of pathological personality represented in two measurement instruments, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD). Although both instruments have shown high convergence, the PID-5 has the advantage of including facets that might offer greater predictive capacity. An alternative to the PiCD has recently been proposed to overcome this drawback, namely the Five-Factor Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (FFiCD). The present study aims to explore its internal structure and to offer additional validity evidence. Data were collected for a total of 1,409 community individuals from two populations in Spain. They responded to the FFiCD, PiCD, the PID-5/SF, and measures of personality functioning and personality disorder screening (Level of Personality Functioning Scale Self-Report [LPFS-SR] and International Personality Disorder Examination [IPDE]). The internal structure of the FFiCD was analyzed through exploratory factor analysis with oblique and bifactor rotations. The predictive capacity of the domains and facets was examined. The structure reported in the original study was replicated, as were the convergent validity data with respect to the PID-5/SF and the PiCD. Facets were grouped into four factors corresponding to the theoretical domains, including a bipolar Anankastia/Disinhibition factor. High correlations were found with the LPFS-SR, and the patterns of relationships with the IPDE shed light on which aspects of pathological personality contribute most to the 10 traditional personality disorders. In general, validity evidence is provided to support the use of the FFiCD, though four of the 20 facets merit revision so that a simpler factor structure can be obtained. Public Significance Statement: The present study investigated the internal structure of the FFiCD in a large sample and sought to provide additional validity evidence using the PiCD, the PID-5/SF, LPFS-SR, and a measure for screening personality disorders (IPDE). The results support the use of the FFiCD, although four of the 20 facets could be revised for enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary models of personality assume a hierarchical structure in which broader traits contain narrower traits. Individual differences in response styles also constitute a source of score variance. In this study, the bifactor model is applied to separate these sources of variance for personality subscores. The procedure is illustrated using data for two personality inventories—NEO Personality Inventory–Revised and Zuckerman–Kuhlman–Aluja Personality Questionnaire. The inclusion of the acquiescence method factor generally improved the fit to acceptable levels for the Zuckerman–Kuhlman–Aluja Personality Questionnaire, but not for the NEO Personality Inventory–Revised. This effect was higher in subscales where the number of direct and reverse items is not balanced. Loadings on the specific factors were usually smaller than the loadings on the general factor. In some cases, part of the variance was due to domains being different from the main one. This information is of particular interest to researchers as they can identify which subscale scores have more potential to increase predictive validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractForced-choice (FC) questionnaires have gained scientific interest over the last decades. However, the inclusion of unequally keyed item pairs in FC questionnaires remains a subject of debate, as there is evidence supporting both their usage and avoidance. Designing unequally keyed pairs may be more difficult when considering social desirability, as they might allow the identification of ideal responses. Nevertheless, they may enhance the reliability and the potential for normative interpretation of scores. To empirically investigate this topic, data were collected from 1,125 undergraduate Psychology students who completed a personality item pool measuring the Big Five personality traits in Likert-type format and two FC questionnaires (with and without unequally keyed pairs). These questionnaires were compared in terms of reliability, convergent and criterion validity, and ipsativity of the scores, along with insights on the construction process. While constructing questionnaires with unequally keyed blocks presented challenges in matching items on their social desirability, the differences observed in terms of reliability, validity, or ipsativity were sporadic and lacked systematic patterns. This suggests that neither questionnaire format exhibited a clear superiority. Given these results, it is recommended using only equally keyed blocks to minimize potential validity issues associated with response biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]