title: Using the multifaceted Rasch model to improve the TAT/PSE measure of need for achievement.
abstract: We used the Rasch (1980) model to develop new pictures for the Thematic Apperception Test (C. D. Morgan & Murray, 1938; McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, & Lowell, 1953) or picture story exercise to measure need for achievement (nAch). In Experiments 1 and 2, we analyzed stories to assess the difficulty level of a total of 8 pictures using the multifaceted Rasch model with picture difficulty, story probe difficulty, and participant ability as facets with a partial credit model (FACETS; Linacre, 2005). A total of 6 pictures were retained and 4 new ones added for Experiment 3 in which 201 participants wrote 6 stories to a random set of the 10 pictures. FACETS analysis revealed improved person separation reliability. In Experiment 4, 206 participants wrote 1 story to the Studying picture either before or after filling out a battery of achievement-related questionnaires. The 2 experimental groups did not differ in the amount of nAch in their stories. The coder facet was demonstrated with 2 independent coders using the revised coding system for nAch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff 86011, USA. Virginia.Blankenship@nau.edu
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rosenow
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001130:Arizona; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011786:Quality Control