title: A Rasch model analysis of NEO PI-R fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality scales.
abstract: This study reports a Rasch model analysis of psychopathic trait measures of fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality (Witt et al., 2010). Through use of secondary data analysis (N = 200), these scales were evaluated to determine whether they provided effective dimensional measurement evidenced by a) one-dimensional structure, b) broad targeting of the latent dimensions, and c) invariance across men and women. Only fearless dominance achieved an invariant one-dimensional structure after slight modification. Both fearless dominance and impulsive antisociality had a restricted range in targeting of the latent trait dimensions. With one exception, scale items did not exhibit differential item functioning across men and women. Implications of the results are discussed within the context of Rasch analysis and the conceptualization of psychopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, Florida Mental Health Institute, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33624, USA. mruiz@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pincus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012930:Social Dominance; D055815:Young Adult