Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The present study examined the reliability and validity of the 15-item Breskin Rigidity Scale. Two samples of UK adults (n = 216; n = 277) completed the rigidity scale alongside the Wilson-Patterson Attitude Inventory and the trait measure of the Sandler-Hazari Obsessionality Inventory. Satisfactory reliability coefficients were obtained for the rigidity scale in both samples. A principal components analysis of the 15-item rigidity scale showed that 13 items loaded on the first component and 2 on a second component. These items were removed and the reliability and validity estimates were recalculated. Comparisons were drawn between the original and amended versions. The amended 13-item scale shows an improved reliability and higher association with other measures of rigidity and rigid character.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Beer

(1989) Learning effects while passively viewing the Necker cube. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 69, 1391–1394.

Breskin

(1968) Measurement of rigidity: a nonverbal test. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 27, 1203–1206.

Cattell

R. B.

(1966) The scree test for the number of components. Multivariate Behavioural Research, 1, 140–161.

Cattell

R. B.

Kline

(1977) The scientific analysis of personality and motivation. London: Academic Press.

Cunningham

D. M.

Ridley

S. E.

Campbell

(1988) Performance of field-independent and dependent college students, and their fixed and mobile subtypes on two formats of a cognitive task. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 66, 311–317.

Fisher

(1951) The memory process and certain psycho-social attitudes, with special reference to the laws of Praegnanz. Journal of Personality, 19, 41–47.

Fontana

(1980) Some standardization data for the Sandler-Hazari Obsessionality Inventory. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 52, 267–275.

Harman

H. H.

(1967) Modern factor analysis. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Univer. of Chicago Press.

Jennrich

R. I.

Sampson

P. F.

(1966) Rotation for simple loadings. Psychometrika, 31, 313–323.

10.

Kline

(1986) A handbook of test construction. London: Methuen.

11.

Nunnally

J. C.

(1978) Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

12.

Sandler

Hazari

(1960) The obsessional: on the psychological classification of obsessional character traits and symptoms. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 33, 113–122.

13.

Schellinger

Beer

(1993) Passive viewing of the Necker cube during massed and distributed practice. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 76, 31–34.

14.

Vollhardt

L. T.

(1990) Rigidity, a comparison by age and gender. Social Behaviour and Personality, 18, 17–26.

15.

Wilson

G. D.

(1975) Manual for the Wilson-Patterson Attitude Inventory. Windsor, UK: NFER.

An Examination of the Reliability and Validity of the Breskin Rigidity Scale

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References