title: Using item response theory to investigate the structure of anticipated affect: do self-reports about future affective reactions conform to typical or maximal models?
abstract: In the present research, we used item response theory (IRT) to examine whether effective predictions (anticipated affect) conforms to a typical (i.e., what people usually do) or a maximal behavior process (i.e., what people can do). The former, correspond to non-monotonic ideal point IRT models, whereas the latter correspond to monotonic dominance IRT models. A convenience, cross-sectional student sample (N = 1624) was used. Participants were asked to report on anticipated positive and negative affect around a hypothetical event (emotions surrounding the start of a new business). We carried out analysis comparing graded response model (GRM), a dominance IRT model, against generalized graded unfolding model, an unfolding IRT model. We found that the GRM provided a better fit to the data. Findings suggest that the self-report responses to anticipated affect conform to dominance response process (i.e., maximal behavior). The paper also discusses implications for a growing literature on anticipated affect.
authors.affiliation: Management Systems Laboratory, School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: Leonidas A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zampetakis
authors.affiliation: Management Systems Laboratory, School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lerakis
authors.affiliation: The Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Crete Rethymnon, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kafetsios
authors.affiliation: Management Systems Laboratory, School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moustakis
keywords: anticipated affect; dominance models; ideal point models; item response theory; unfolding