Measuring sexual risk for HIV: a Rasch scaling approach. Arch Sex Behav 2009 Dec;38(6):922-35
Date
06/14/2008Pubmed ID
18551361Pubmed Central ID
PMC3668553DOI
10.1007/s10508-008-9385-2Scopus ID
2-s2.0-72949101515 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 13 CitationsAbstract
In this study, we developed an HIV transmission risk scale and examined its psychometric properties using data on sexual behavior obtained from a probability sample of adult men who have sex with men living in Chicago. We used Messick's (Am Psychol 50:741-749, 1995) conceptualization of unified validity theory to organize the psychometric properties of data. Evidence related to scale content was investigated via Rasch item fit statistics, point-measure correlations, and expert evaluation. The substantive aspect of validity was addressed by interpreting the meaningfulness of the item difficulty hierarchy (continuum of risky behaviors) and assessment of person fit. The structural aspect of validity was assessed using Rasch item fit statistics, principal component analysis of standardized residuals, and other residual analyses. The generalizability aspect of validity was investigated via internal consistency reliability estimates for both items and persons, and aspects of external validity were addressed by examining between-group differences with respect to levels of risky behavior. Applications and suggested future studies are discussed.
Author List
Fendrich M, Smith EV Jr, Pollack LM, Mackesy-Amiti MEAuthor
Michael Fendrich PhD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
HIV Infections
Homosexuality
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychometrics
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
United States
Urban Population
Young Adult
