title: Test-retest reliability of the Mirowsky-Ross 2 x 2 Index of the Sense of Control.
abstract: This study investigated the short-term stability of the 1991 Mirowsky-Ross 2 x 2 Index of the Sense of Control. From an ongoing longitudinal study, 304 subjects were randomly selected for test-retest interviews occurring 1 to 4 days after their regularly scheduled first follow-up interview. Test-retest reliability was assessed at the item level using percent agreement and weighted kappa. At the scale score level, reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). ICCs were also calculated within categories of demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and functional status characteristics. There was moderate to substantial item-level agreement (mean weighted kappa = 51; weighted kappa range = .38 to .66). At the scale score level there was substantial agreement (ICC = .71). No appreciable differences in ICC values were found in the demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and functional comparisons of status characteristics. Thus, this sense of control measure has acceptable test-retest reliability and is appropriate for use in longitudinal research.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, E-205 General Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. fredric-wolinsky@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Fredric D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Wolinsky
authors.forename: Kathleen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wyrwich
authors.forename: Stacie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: Ajit N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kroenke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results