Misuraca, Kathleen (2017) Exploring the Internal Validity of a New Adolescent Psychopathy Screening Tool. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
There has been considerable contention throughout the adolescent psychopathy literature. The current gold standard, the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD), has shown an array of validity inconsistencies. Despite this, this measure is still being utilized in applied settings. Considering the negative implications of misdiagnosis, this study aims to provide further evidence of validity for the APSD, whilst establishing the measurement validity of a new adolescent psychopathy tool, the Adolescent Anti-Social Attitudes scale (AASAS). Structural and content validity of both the APSD and the AASAS was investigated in a community sample of adolescents (n = 192) aged between 15 and 25. Both measures produced a two-factor structure, with similar item loading patterns and acceptable overall reliability. However, compared to the AASAS, the APSD did display lower internal consistencies, both overall and in each subscale. Item analysis revealed the AASAS provided evidence of a content superior to the APSD. Thus, this study offers various type of reliability and measurement validity for the APSD and the AASAS, which may increase the confidence for using these measures in various settings.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Suzanne Czech |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2025 00:51 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Aug 2025 00:51 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | : Psychopathy, Adolescence, Adolescent Psychopathy, APSD, Antisocial Process Screening Device, Construct Validity, Content Validity, Item analysis, Factor Analysis, Classical Test Theory. |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52584 |
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