Arab Educational Information Network

The present study aims at comparing the psychometrics of three strategies in preparing the abbreviated versions of personality scales. To achieve this aim, irrational thinking scale prepared by Goldberg, Johnson, Eber, Hogan, Ashton, and Gough in 2006 is used. The scale consists of 110 items intended to measure 13 ideas with a five-point grading. Three abbreviated versions of the scale are prepared according to different strategies; logical strategy, factor analysis strategy, and experimental strategy respectively. Multiple measurements design is used by the researcher in applying the procedures of scale versions on a sample of 450 male and female students who are randomly selected from Baghdad University. The sample is divided into three groups with 150 students in each. The students in the three groups are exposed to the three versions but in different sequence. The psychometrics of items (discrimination power, validity, and reliability) and those of the whole scale (validity and reliability) are computed. The results achieved indicate the superiority of the second version (factor analysis strategy) in all its psychometrics over the other two versions. The second version (the experimental strategy) comes second and finally the first version (logical strategy) comes last. Accordingly, it is recommended that the second version is better to be used in preparing abbreviated versions of personality scales as it proves to be the best. According to the finding of the study, a set of conclusions, recommendations, and suggestions are put forward. (Published abstract)