Gregory J. Boyle
Gregory J. Boyle
Professor of Psychology
Associate Dean (Research)
Bond University
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Self‑report measures of depression: Some psychometric considerations.
Gregory J Boyle, Bond University
DATE: January 1985
SOURCE: British Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol 24, pp. 45-59.
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Postprint
Boyle, G. J. (1985). Self‑report measures of depression: Some psychometric considerations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24, 45‑59.
Reproduced with permission from British Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Copyright © The British Psychological Society 1985.
ABSTRACT:
This paper examines some aspects of the psychometric adequacy of existing self-report depression measures, so that clinicians might better appreciate their, reliability and validity. Issues addressed include the desirability of moderate rather than maximum test-retest and item homogeneity/internal consistency estimates; the distinction between-measurement at the surface syndrome level vs. that at the fundamental source state/trait level; the importance of appropriate rather than arbitrary factor analytic procedures; and the need for multivariate measures instead of the single-scale instruments so often employed to measure depression in isolation from interacting emotions such as anxiety or stress. Apart from these more general issues, a number of specific criticisms is considered, along with recommendations for better self-report measures of depression.