title: [Asessment and measurement of psychosocial variables: a challenge for nursing research and attention].
abstract: Assessment and measurement of psychosocial variables are challenging. These constructs are complex, and there is distrust as to the validity of using standardized instruments Jor their measurement. There is a large variety of instruments and much confusion regarding the terms used to describe the validity and reliability tests. This paper adopts the theoretical reference of psychometrics. Its purpose is to update knowledge on general and psychometric characteristics of instruments for the assessment of subjective phenomena, to establish a parallel between similar terms, and to present a guide for choosing instruments. The enhancement of measurement instruments will improve nursing research and attention.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem na Saúde do Adulto, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo. dalete.mota@globo.com
authors.forename: Dálete Delalibera Correa de Faria
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Cibele Andrucioli de Mattos
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pimenta
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design