Title
Unidimensionality and reliability under Mokken scaling of the Dutch language version of the SF-36
Author
van der Heijden, P.G.M.
van Buuren, S.
Fekkes, M.
Radder, J.
Verrips, E.
Publication year
2003
Abstract
The sub-scales of the SF-36 in the Dutch National Study are investigated with respect to unidimensionality and reliability. It is argued that these properties deserve separate treatment. For unidimensionality we use a non-parametric model from item response theory, called the Mokken scaling model, and compute the corresponding scalability coefficients. We estimate reliability under the Mokken model, assuming that the items are double homogeneous, and compare it to Cronbach's α. The scalability of the sub-scale general health perceptions is medium (H = 0.46), and for the other sub-scales it is strong (H ≥ 0.6). The reliability in terms of α indicates that all sub-scales can be used in basic research (α > 0.70), but that only physical functioning can be used for clinical applications of quality of life (α > 0.90). The relative merits of our approach are discussed.
Subject
Health
Item response theory
Mokken scaling model
Reliability
Scalability
SF-36
Adult
Calculation
Controlled study
Correlation coefficient
Language
Medical research
Model
Perception
Rating scale
Humans
Models, Statistical
Netherlands
Quality of Life
Questionnaires
Reproducibility of Results
Sickness Impact Profile
Translating
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022269315437
TNO identifier
236998
ISSN
0962-9343
Source
Quality of Life Research, 12 (2), 189-198
Document type
article