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
For instructors
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ISBN: 9781506341569
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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.

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