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6 - Psychometrics in Clinical Psychological Research

from Part II - Observational Approaches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

By
R. Michael Furr
Edited by
Aidan G. C. Wright  and
Michael N. Hallquist
Aidan G. C. Wright
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Michael N. Hallquist
Affiliation:
Pennsylvania State University
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Summary

High-quality, informative research in clinical psychology depends on the use of measures that have sound psychometric properties. Reliance upon psychometrically poor measures can produce results that are misleading both quantitatively and conceptually. This chapter articulates the implications that psychometric quality has for clinical research, outlines fundamental psychometric principles, and presents recent trends in psychometric theory and practice. Specifically, this chapter discusses the meaning and importance of measures’ dimensionality, reliability, and validity, and outlines the diverse methods for evaluating those important psychometric properties. In doing so, it highlights the utility of procedures and perspectives such as confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling, classical test theory, item response theory, and contemporary views on validity. It concludes with a brief comment about the process of creating and refining clinical measures. The chapter’s ultimate goal is to enhance researchers’ ability to produce high-quality and informative clinical research.

Keywords

psychometricsmeasurementreliabilityvaliditytest constructionscale developmentitem response theoryclassical test theoryfactor analysisclinical psychology
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods in Clinical Psychology , pp. 54 - 65
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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