title: Validating, improving reliability, and estimating correlation of the four subscales in the WHOQOL-BREF using multidimensional Rasch analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the construct validity, and improved the test reliability and the estimation accuracy for the correlation between domains of the WHOQOL-BREF using multidimensional Rasch analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13,083 adults were administered the 28-item WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version, which consists of 4 subscales (domains). The multidimensional form of the partial credit model was used to examine the fit of the 4 subscales. For comparison, each subscale individually was also fitted to the unidimensional partial credit model. Standard item fit statistics and analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) were used to check model-data fit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After excluding 2 overall items and deleting 7 DIF items, the remaining items of each subscale in the WHOQOL-BREF constituted a single construct. The test reliabilities and correlations between domains obtained from the multidimensional approach, (0.82-0.86) and (0.79-0.89), respectively, were much higher than those obtained from the unidimensional approach, (0.67-0.75) and (0.53-0.65), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 19-item WHOQOL-BREF measures more succinct latent traits than the original design. The multidimensional approach yields not only more accurate estimates for the correlation between domains but also substantially higher reliabilities, than the standard unidimensional approach.
authors: Department of Psychology, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, 621, Taiwan. psywcw@ccu.edu.tw
authors: Wen-Chung
authors: WC
authors: Wang
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Yao
authors: Yih-Jian
authors: YJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Jung-Der
authors: JD
authors: Wang
authors: Ching-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Hsieh