Process of psychometric validation of an instrument across language and culture

The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the process of psychometric validation of an instrument across language and culture. Three studies will be described in which the English version of the decisional balance scale (DBS) was translated into Chinese (CDBS), validated, and adapted for use in research with Chinese children. The first study was designed to ensure the reliability and validity of a newly translated instrument. The DBS was translated into Chinese then back translated into English. The CDBS was adapted based on input from a focus group with young adolescents, a review by a panel of experts and lay persons, and pilot testing. The next study was to conduct psychometric testing on the CDBS. Exploratory factor analysis procedures and contrasted group comparisons affirmed the construct validity of the Pros and the Cons. Their reliability was supported by item-to-subtotal correlation coefficients and Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The third study was to conduct further psychometric validation on the CDBS. Reliability for the Pros and the Cons subscales was supported by Cronbach's alpha coefficients and item-to-subtotal correlation coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures were used to assess the construct validity of the CDBS. The contrasted group approaches affirmed the construct validity of the Pros and the Cons. Therefore, the validity and reliability of the CDBS were supported by the psychometric test results in three studies. It is suggested that the CDBS was applicable to and congruent with the culture of the Taiwanese adolescents in assessing smoking attitudes.