PURPOSE Both the long form visual functioning scale (LFVFS(39)) and visual functioning scale (VFS) are measures of visual functioning (VF) that represent the Rasch-scaled versions of the NEI-VFQ(39) and the Indian vision function questionnaire (IND-VFQ), respectively. The objectives of this study were to investigate if the 15-item LFVFS(39) and 13-item VFS of the IND-VFQ meet the assumptions of...

OBJECTIVE To investigate cross-cultural validity of a newly developed Assessment of Children's Hand Skills (ACHS) in children with and without disabilities. SUBJECTS One group of 138 Australian children and 134 Taiwanese children, age range 2-12 years (a total of 149 typically developing children and 123 children with disabilities). METHODS Rasch model analysis was used to evaluate rating s...

Greatly influenced by the work of Rasch (1960/1980), Mokken (1971) presented a nonparametric scaling procedure that is based on the theory of invariant measurement, but draws upon less strict requirements related to the scale of measurement. Because they are theoretically and empirically related to Rasch models, Mokken’s nonparametric models have been recognized as a useful exploratory tool for...

AIMS The purpose of this work is to study the validity of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) construct by applying Rasch models to a non-clinical sample of heroin abusers. SUBJECTS 982 (73% men) young people 30 years old or under (mean age 25.9 years) participated. All of them were captured from the community in the metropolitan areas of Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, between April 2002 a...

INTRODUCTION Trial design for SMA depends on meaningful rating scales to assess outcomes. In this study Rasch methodology was applied to 9 motor scales in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS Data from all 3 SMA types were provided by research groups for 9 commonly used scales. Rasch methodology assessed the ordering of response option thresholds, tests of fit, spread of item locations, res...

PURPOSE   Many questionnaires for the measurement of visual impairment exist. One, the Houston Vision Assessment Test (HVAT), takes a different approach: the patient is asked to rate overall impairment and the proportion attributed to vision, then through multiplication the visual and non-visual (physical) impairments are calculated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the scores...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the internal construct validity of the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) by Rasch analysis of data from a national cohort of patients with mild traumatic brain injury. METHODS Data collected at 3 months after mild traumatic brain injury from 2,523 patients were analysed using the partial credit model, describing rating scale structure, local depen...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the measurement properties (including rating scale performance, unidimensionality, and differential item functioning) of the fine motor scale of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition in children, by using the Rasch analysis. DESIGN A total of 419 children (including 342 typically developing children and 77 children with fine motor delays or difficultie...

The studies conducted so far on the effectiveness of resolution methods including the discussion method in resolving discrepancies in rating have yielded mixed results. What is left unnoticed in the literature is the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool rather than a resolution method. The present study addresses this research gap by exploring the data coming from rating behavi...