Overview
Scale Design Project – Part 1
Psychological MeasurementIdentifying Construct and Initial Scale Item Creating Phase Due October 5th, 2025INSTRUCTIONS:
Working with your group, you will describe and define the construct you propose to measure with the items your group has created. This phase of the project involves group work, with the expectation that all group members will collaborate and contribute to the work that is submitted for Part 1.
Please note that a component of your grade for Part 1 will be based on your group members’ evaluation of your contributions.
Topic-PERFORMANCE ATTITUDE TOWARD CANNNABIS USE IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
-A brief explanation of why these items might be appropriate for measuring your construct of interest and how your scale attempts to manage response bias in participants. (2 paragraphs exactly)
-you have just have to write this part - A brief explanation of why these items might be appropriate for measuring your construct of interest and how your scale attempts to manage response bias in participants. (1 paragraphs exactly)
Demographic(19+)
Proposed construct: Positive enhancement attitudes surrounding Cannabis and academics in undergraduate students
oAssume cannabis use is neutral
oLooking at attitudes surrounding cognitive enhancements
Total 2 sources should be referenced and intext citation should match with references.Use only academic peer reviewed empirical sources latest from 2020 onwards( no older than that)Instructions:Step 1 – Identify your Construct.
As a group you will collaborate to identify a novel psychological construct that you want to measure. You may choose a construct that is not novel (i.e., a scale already exists to measure it), but you will need to provide sound justification for why a new measure is warranted and cite existing measures of this construct, noting how yours is different.( We are measuring - Attitude toward Cannabis use)
Step 2 – Develop of Construct Definition.
Conduct a literature review on your construct to identify relevant theory and existing empirical research that will help you specify your group’s construct definition (these may also help guide your item creation). Define the construct to be measured as clearly, unambiguously, and thoroughly as possible.
We are measuring Attitude toward Cannabis use
Step 3 – Generate Items.
As a group, generate your scale items. Remember that you want items to be clear and concise. You will want to generate more items than you’ll need for your final scale so that you can evaluate them in the later phases of this project. Thus, aim to generate 20-25 items in this initial phase.
Items generated are-
1. People who use cannabis frequently are unreliable. (reverse)
2. People who use cannabis frequently make more mistakes. (reverse)
3. I like to use cannabis to help me meet obligations.
4. Using cannabis improves my academic performance.
5. Using cannabis improves creativity.
6. Using cannabis helps me face complex challenges.
7. Cannabis use can be beneficial.
8. When I smell cannabis on campus it annoys me. (reverse)
9. I use cannabis to help get my mind off of academics. (reverse)
10. I have friends at University that use cannabis for academic improvement.
11. Using cannabis hurts academic performance. (reverse)
12. Cannabis users are unnecessarily judged
13. I find the stereotypes surrounding cannabis users unfair
14. I would be upset with cannabis was recriminalized
15. I am concerned about my friends who use cannabis frequently (reverse)
16. Cannabis use can be a normal part of life
17. 11. I think Cannabis use is harmful to an individual’s overall performance (reverse).
18. 14. I think Cannabis use could be harmful to a person’s motivation (reverse).
19. 15. I would recommend Cannabis use to a friend to improve academic performance.
20. I think cannabis use among university students is socially acceptable.
21. Using cannabis is a personal choice that should be respected.
22. I feel comfortable discussing cannabis use with my friends.
23. University policies on cannabis use are relevant.
24. I would support campus initiatives aimed at promoting safe cannabis use.
Step 4 – Define an Appropriate Response Scale.
Select a response scale and format that is appropriate for your construct.(use Likert scale 6 point)
Strongly agree (4)
Somewhat agree(3)
Neutral(2)
Somewhat disagree(1)
Strongly disagree(0)
Prefer not to answer(999/NA)
Step 5 – Create Instructions for Participants.
Provide clear and simple instructions for participants to help them complete your scale correctly.
What to include in your write up of Part 1:-A definition of the construct or domain(s) your scale is designed to measure. (1-2 paragraphs exactly)
-Justification for the need to measure this construct or domain (including how/why might this scale be used in research and/or clinical work). (1-2 paragraphs exactly )
-The 20-25 items your group created to measure that construct or the domain(s).
-The response scale that respondents should use for answering the items.
-The instructions for participants.
-An explanation for how a scale score might be computed (how will users calculate total scores? How will reverse scored items be handled). (1 paragraph exactly)
-A brief explanation of why these items might be appropriate for measuring your construct of interest and how your scale attempts to manage response bias in participants. (2 paragraphs exactly)
-Your last pages should be the signed Academic Integrity Checklist, signed by all group members.
GRADING RUBRIC
Grading Criteria for Scale Development Project – Part 1 (11 marks) | Value |
Introduction / Construct Definition 1.5 marks: Introduces the construct to be measured as clearly, unambiguously, and thoroughly as possible. 1.5 marks: Clearly justifies the utility of a scale that measures this construct. | 3 marks |
Items 1 mark: Items listed are clearly behaviour/attitude samples from the relevant domains, as outlined in the construct definition. 1 mark: response scale is appropriate for scale items and construct. | 2 marks |
Instructions for Participants & Scoring 1 mark: Clear and simple instructions are provided for participants 1 mark: Scoring instructions are clear and appropriate for items and constructs | 2 marks |
Conclusion 1.5 marks: Clear explanation for the appropriateness of the items included. | 1.5 marks |
Grammar and Style 1 mark: Spelling; grammar; no awkward sentences 1.5 marks: Paragraphs used; clear, concise, and organized | 2.5 marks |
*Note that full points for each criterion are only awarded if they are met well, completing these criteria with work that is of insufficient quality could result in only partial credit awarded.
TIPS:1.Clearly and correctly reference (using APA7 OWL PURDE STYLE format) any ideas from the lecture, the textbook, or any academic peer reviewed empirical journal article you chose to use as support.
2.Find out 2 academic peer reviewed empirical sources only.
3.Do proper deep research
Should be primary research, which means the authors conducted their own study. A peer reviewed academic journal article:
oShould be primary research, which means the authors conducted their own study. Meta-analyses and literature reviews are also acceptable. Use only academic peer reviewed empirical sources latest from 2020 onwards only.
oStudents cannot use the following types of evidence for the assignment: do not use any
§Non-peer reviewed dissertations or theses.
§Magazine or newspaper articles, or other popular press pieces. Popular press summaries of research are also unacceptable.
§Dictionary definition(do not use any dictionary definition )§Donot use Non-peer reviewed dissertations or theses, Magazine or newspaper articles, or other popular press pieces. Popular press summaries of research are also unacceptable. Dictionary definition(do not use any dictionary definition )Total 10 sources should be referenced and intext citation should match with references.4.Use the Courselink Discussion forum or email the TAs or instructor if you have
questions along the way or complications with your group dynamic.
5.DO NOT plan to submit your final paper in the last hour or in the last few minutes before the dropbox closes. The deadline is STRICT. A trustworthy group member should be designated to submit the assignment on time.
Paper Style Requirements:Whole docx should be Double-spaced the paper using 2.5 cm margins on all sides
Whole docx should use 12-point Times New Roman font
Give proper headings
Do NOT use direct quotes. I want to see you showing off that you understand the ideas you are talking about by paraphrasing and citing your sources correctly1!
Use Apa 7 owl Purdue style for reference. For whole docx
Intext citation should match with references.
Use APA 7 owl Purdue style guidelines for any other style and referencing issues (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/a...
_guide/general_format.html)
Include an APA7owl purde style title page, with the names of your group members listed. No running head is needed.
Your paper should be submitted as a word document.
oIf we don’t discover the formatting error until after the submission deadline has passed, a late penalty will be applied for updating the format.
Organization, Grammar, and Writing StyleReview your paper for awkward sentences, paragraph structure, and spelling mistakes.
There should be no spelling error, grammar error, no awkward sentences error, no paragraph structure error as there is penalty of 15%.
Try reading your paper out loud; this will help you find any mistakes or sentences that do not make sense.
You can also visit the writing centre in the library for additional support.
Penalties for LatenessIf you submit your assignment late, it will be accepted up to 5 days following the due date and with a penalty of 10% per day (e.g., 78% - 10% = 68%). If you think your group can earn a better grade by taking some extra time, do it.
You do not need to email the professor or your TAs. Submit your assignment to the correct drop box within five days of the original due date. No questions asked.
After this 5-day grace period has passed, assignments will no longer be accepted.
Additional Information
For your scale design project, you will be creating a new uni- or multi-dimensional measure/scale using the deductive scale construction process. With this process you:
1.Create a definition of the construct you are measuring, based on past research/theory.
2.Write items such that each item reflects the construct definition.
1 Not sure how to paraphrase correctly? Use this: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/u... ex.html
The idea is that, despite the fact that psychological constructs are unobservable, we CAN observe people’s responses to items.
For example, affective commitment is a psychological trait that is unobservable (we can’t measure it directly). However, we can create a series of items (questions) that we combine to create a scale (i.e., a measure). The psychological trait of affective commitment (as defined by the construct definition) would be (hopefully) reflected in people’s responses to the items in this scale.
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Item 1: “I would be very happy to spend the rest of my life with this person.” Item 2: “I enjoy discussing this person with other friends and family members.” Item 3: “I really feel as if this person’s problems are my own.”
Item 4: “I think that I could easily become as attached to another person as I am to this one.” (reverse)
Item 5: “I do not feel ‘part of the family’ with this person.” (reverse) Item 6: “I do not feel ‘emotionally attached’ to this person.” (reverse) Item 7: “This person has a great deal of personal meaning for me.”
Item 8: “I do not feel a strong sense of belonging with this person.” (reverse)
As you work on your project, you will need to pick a construct of interest. Imagine that you settled on the construct of employee cynicism. The first step in your research paper is to find out if there are any past attempts to measure or define employee cynicism and evaluate them. And important part of this first step is to collect the various definition of cynicism and put them in a table. Your table should include at least 6 definitions associated with past measurement attempts, but you may also include in your table additional definitions that are not associated with past measurement attempts (especially if there haven’t been many [or any] past attempts to measure your specific construct).
Consider the partial table displayed below, which presents definitions of employee cynicism. Notice how we also include an example item from each scale.
Now it’s time to create your own definition. Review the definitions presented in your table and look for commonalities. As well, think about what you learned about the nature of the construct you are researching from the articles you read. Engage in debate with your group members about what is the “essence” of the construct you are measuring. Then write a definition that reflects your group’s shared understanding of the construct. You should write your definition in a way that will make it easy to write items that reflect that definition.
Once your definition is complete, your group should attempt to write a large number of items that reflect that definition. You will probably need to do multiple drafts of each item to make sure that it not only reflects the construct, but also makes for a good item (you don’t want confusing items, or items that are all essentially the same).
Here is another resource that might be helpful:
Hinkin, T. R. (1998). A brief tutorial on the development of measures for use in survey questionnaires. Organizational research methods, 1(1), 104-121.
This is an excellent article that you should read in its entirety before you proceed with your project. You’ll find this article in our course reserve, but you can also search for it in the library database.
For this section of your project, you’ll want to pay particular attention to the section titled “item generation”. This will help you before you start writing your items.
DOCX 1- INSTRCUTION DOCX Scale Design Project – Part 1
DOCX 2- Academic chekclist
DOCX3 -Grading rubric References has to be in APA7 OWL PURDE STYLE.
And guidelines and you have to answer to this I am proving the grading rubrics everything write in own words and do not use AI AND CHATGPT AS MAM HAS THE SOFTAWARE TO DETECT.EACH AND EVERY LINE and each and every single word.And guidelines and you have to answer to this I am proving the grading rubrics everything write in own words and do not use AI AND CHATGPT AS MAM HAS THE SOFTAWARE TO DETECT.EACH AND EVERY LINE and each and every single word.