Abstract
A study on aging experience in patients with rheumatic diseases showed low statistical consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) for the Physical Decline subscale of the Personal Experience of Aging Scale whereas the scale functioned very well in preceding surveys. This discrepancy led to the decision to examine the contextual validity of the subscale with a cognitive interview methodology. In the current study we applied the Three Step Test Interview as a cognitive interviewing device to explore misinterpretations and other problems in answering the PD questionnaire items, with the aim of identifying item improvements that might also be beneficial to the statistical quality of the PD subscale. Some problems were identified that were not related to the statistical inter-item correlation rates, nor to the arthritis context of this sample, but were rather due to faulty item formulation. Reformulations were designed to improve the items. The report of this study follows the Cognitive Interviewing Reporting Framework. Experiences with this new guideline are discussed.
References
2007). Cross-sectional validation of the Aging Perceptions Questionnaire: A multidimensional instrument for assessing self-perceptions of aging. BMC Geriatrics, 7, doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-7-9.
(2001). In the field with the Beck Depression Inventory. Qualitative Health Research, 11, 491–504.
(2012). The experience of aging in patients with rheumatic disease: A comparison with the general population. Aging & Mental Health, 16, 666–672.
(2013). The Cognitive Interviewing Reporting Framework (CIRF): Towards the harmonization of cognitive testing reports. Methodology, 9, 87–95. doi: 10.1027/1614-2241/a000075
(2008). Comparative and cross-national designs. In , The SAGE handbook of social research methods (pp. 249–264). Los Angeles: Sage.
(2008). De beleving van het eigen ouder worden bij patiënten met reumatische aandoeningen: de fysieke component.
([The experience of aging in patients with rheumatic disease: The physical component] (Unpublished thesis). University of Twente, The Netherlands2004). Constructing questionnaires based on the theory of planned behaviour. A manual for health services researchers. Retrieved from people.umass.edu/aizen/pdf/Francis%20etal.TPB%20research%20manual.pdf
(2007). What do people think about when they answer theory of planned behaviour questionnaires? Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 672–687.
(2008). The Three-Step Test-Interview (TSTI): An observation-based method for pretesting self-completion questionnaires. Survey Research Methods, 2, 143–150.
(2005). The Productivity of the Three-Step Test-Interview (TSTI) Compared to an Expert Review of a Self-administered Questionnaire on Alcohol Consumption. Journal of Official Statistics, 21, 103–120.
(1975). The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A revision. Journal of Gerontology, 30, 85–89.
(2003). Mind matters: Cognitive and physical effects of aging stereotypes. Journal of Gerontology, 58B, 203–211.
(2004). Preventive health behaviors influenced by self-perceptions of aging. Preventive Medicine, 39, 625–629.
(2002). Longitudinal benefit of positive self-perceptions of aging on functional health. Journal of Gerontology, 57, 409–417.
(2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 261–270.
(1983). The structure of the Philadelphia Geriatric Centre Morale Scale: A reinterpretation. Journal of Gerontology, 38, 181–189.
(1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
(2005). Development of the 12-items expectation regarding aging survey. The Gerontologist, 45, 240–248.
(2001). The personal experience of aging, individual resources, and subjective well-being. Journal of Gerontology, 56, 364–373.
(2007). Quality criteria were proposed for measurement properties of health status questionnaires. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 60, 34–42.
(2003). De beleving van het eigen ouder worden Multidimensionaliteit en multidirectionaliteit in relatie tot succesvol ouder worden en welbevinden.
([The personal experience of aging: Multidimensionality and multidirectionality in relation to successful aging and well-being] Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 34, 96–103.2010). On the importance of a positive view on ageing for physical exercise among middle-aged and older adults: Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings. Psychology and Health, 25, 25–42.
(