Item Response Theory based Psychometric Investigation of SWLS for University Students

Abstract

Life satisfaction is an important factor for mental health and has many positive effects on people. Considering its importance, different measurement tools were developed over the last 5 years. Among these tools, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is the most prominent and adapted to diverse populations, including university students. On the other hand, all these studies were conducted using the classical testing approach, while item response theory was rarely preferred. Regarding this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of SWLS by using a graded response model (GRM), which is a member of a broader family of the modern psychometric approach called Item Response Theory (IRT). For this purpose, the data were collected from 471 university students (male = 83, female = 388) aged between 17 and 37 years (M = 21.23, SD = 2.32). IRT based analysis provided satisfactory results on the psychometric properties of the SWLS. It was found that the scale's reliability was acceptable across a wide range of ability spectrums and items fit the GRM well and did not show gender-based differential item functioning. As a result, the psychometric quality of SWLS was further proved in the IRT context.

Psychometric properties of the Cultural Intelligence Scale based on item response theory

“…The CQS prepared by Ang et al (2007) point scale appears to be less confusing and to increase response rate (Babakus & Mangold, 1992;Devlin et al, 1993). Some similar studies (Avcu, 2021) used similar Likert scales and suggested that the seven response categories were too high and should be reduced to five to decrease disturbance for participants and make it easier for them to distinguish between adjacent categories.…”

Testing the Psychometric Properties and Equivalence of the Czech Version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Item Response Theory, and Bayesian Modelling

“…Velmi vhodnou metodou pro hodnocení kvality a vývoj škál je pak teo rie odpovědi na položku (Item Response Theory, "IRT"), která však v případě SWLS nebyla dosud příliš aplikována (Avcu, 2021;Nima et al, 2020;Oishi, 2006;Vittersø et al, 2005). Jde o poměrně moderní metodologický přístup založený na matematickém modelování vztahu latentní proměnné a měřitelné odpovědi na konkrétní položku v rámci celého testu či škály, čímž se právě primárně odlišuje od CTT, která pracuje s celým testem/škálou.…”

Improved Scoring of Satisfaction with Life Scale: Scoring of SWLS

“…Higher score implies higher life satisfaction. People with higher sores in SWLS are more compatible with and productive in society (Avcu, 2021) who found that SWLS items did not show gender-bias i.e. SWLS items functioned similarly for men and women.…”

“…and how frequently an action is to take place for regarding it as most ways. Participants may find it difficult to distinguish between adjacent category levels (Avcu, 2021).…”