title: Development of an appraisal tool to evaluate strength of an instrument or outcome measure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To devise a framework to enable the grading of the psychometric strength of instruments and questionnaires.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicians and researchers use a range of instruments and questionnaires to evaluate the outcomes of their research or clinical practice. To date, there has been no quantitative framework designed to determine the validity of these measurement tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  The psychometric grading framework (PGF) consists of two scales: scale one is a matrix for assigning a level (A-D) to each of six psychometric properties, based on the strength of any measures reported; scale two grades the overall psychometric strength of the instrument by combining the number and level of psychometric measures arising from the first scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PGF uses a simple matrix that combines results from psychometric measures into an overall grading of an instrument's strength. The flexibility of the framework enables consistent determination of strength across a range of instruments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PGF provides a preliminary evaluation (or grading) of the psychometric properties of an instrument based on the number and strength of reported psychometric scores. Its use may reduce the subjective judgements about the quality of instruments and outcome measures.
authors: Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. kleu9486@uni.sydney.edu.au
authors: Kat
authors: K
authors: Leung
authors: Lyndal
authors: L
authors: Trevena
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Waters
mesh_terms: D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics