Scale Development: Theory and Applications(26 Applied Social Research Methods)

In the Fourth Edition of Scale Development, Robert F. DeVellis demystifies measurement by emphasizing a logical rather than strictly mathematical understanding of concepts. The text supports readers in comprehending newer approaches to measurement, comparing them to classical approaches, and grasping more clearly the relative merits of each. This edition addresses new topics pertinent to modern measurement approaches and includes additional exercises and topics for class discussion.

Table of Contents:
1. Overview General Perspectives on Measurement Historical Origins of Measurement in Social Science Later Developments in Measurement The Role of Measurement in the Social Sciences Summary and Preview Exercises 2. Understanding the Latent Variable Constructs versus Measures Latent Variable as the Presumed Cause of Item Values Path Diagrams Further Elaboration of the Measurement Model Parallel Tests Alternative Models Exercises Note 3. Reliability Methods Based on the Analysis of Variance Continuous versus Dichotomous Items Internal Consistency Reliability Based on Correlations Between Scale Scores Reliability and Statistical Power Generalizability Theory Summary Exercises Notes 4. Validity Content Validity Criterion-Related Validity Construct Validity Exercises 5. Guidelines in Scale Development Step 1: Determine Clearly What it is You Want to Measure Step 2: Generate an Item Pool Step 3: Determine the Format for Measurement Step 4: Have Initial Item Pool Reviewed by Experts Step 5: Consider Inclusion of Validation Items Step 6: Administer Items to a Development Sample Step 7: Evaluate the Items Step 8: Optimize Scale Length Exercises Note 6. Factor Analysis Overview of Factor Analysis Conceptual Description of Factor Analysis Bifactor and Hierarchical Factor Models Interpreting Factors Principle Components versus Common Factors Confirmatory Factor Analysis Using Factor Analysis in Scale Development Sample Size Conclusion Exercises 7. An Overview of Item Response Theory Item Difficulty Item Discrimination Guessing, or False Positives Item-Characteristic Curves IRT Applied to Multiresponse Items Conclusions Exercises 8. Measurement in the Broader Research Context Before Scale Development After Scale Administration Final Thoughts Exercises

About the Author :
Robert F. DeVellis is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Health Behavior (Gillings School of Global Public Health) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. DeVellis has more than 40 years of experience in the measurement of psychological and social variables. He served as the first domain chair for Social Outcomes of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) consortium, a multisite National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap initiative directed at identifying, modifying, testing, and disseminating outcome measures for use by NIH investigators. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American Psychological Association’s Division of Health Psychology (38), on the Arthritis Foundation’s Clinical/Outcomes/Therapeutics Research Study Section, and on the Advisory Board of the Veterans Affairs Measurement Excellence Initiative. He is the recipient of the 2005 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals and is an associate editor of Arthritis Care and Research. In addition, he has served as guest editor, guest associate editor, or reviewer for more than two dozen other journals. He has served as principal investigator or co-investigator since the early 1980s on a series of research projects funded by the federal government and private foundations.

Review :
“This is the foremost text on scale development for both the experienced and novice researcher alike.” “The Fourth Edition captures the recent development in measurement (e.g., alternatives to Alpha, bifactor model, hierarchical factor model, and available tools in R) by explaining concepts using accessible languages and examples.” “The Fourth Edition of Scale Development incorporates practical examples and exercises to aid in student learning and understanding the fundamentals of measurement. The text continues to be a go-to resource for scholars and students alike.”  PRAISE FOR THE PREVIOUS EDITION “The key strength of this text is its ability to present the basic and necessary background on scale construction and measurement for the subsequent material, either in the context of the same first-year graduate course or in future courses during a masters and PhD program.” “This book does an excellent job in explaining complicated topics in test construction at a level that students can understand. The use of specific examples that demonstrate key points is very effective.”