title: Isolating Trait and Method Variance in the Measurement of Callous and Unemotional Traits.
abstract: To examine hypothesized influence of method variance from negatively keyed items in measurement of callous-unemotional (CU) traits, nine a priori confirmatory factor analysis model comparisons of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits were evaluated on multiple fit indices and theoretical coherence. Tested models included a unidimensional model, a three-factor model, a three-bifactor model, an item response theory-shortened model, two item-parceled models, and three correlated trait-correlated method minus one models (unidimensional, correlated three-factor, and bifactor). Data were self-reports of 234 adolescents (191 juvenile offenders, 43 high school students; 63% male; ages 11-17 years). Consistent with hypotheses, models accounting for method variance substantially improved fit to the data. Additionally, bifactor models with a general CU factor better fit the data compared with correlated factor models, suggesting a general CU factor is important to understanding the construct of CU traits. Future Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits analyses should account for method variance from item keying and response bias to isolate trait variance.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Paiva-Salisbury
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Stickle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010556:Personality Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students
keywords: ICU; Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits; callous–unemotional traits; method variance; psychopathic traits