Factor Structure

The present study examined the factor structure of the University of Tehran English Proficiency Test (UTEPT) that aims to examine test takers’ knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach was used to analyse the responses of participants (N= 850) to a 2010 version of the test. A higher-order model was postulated to test if the underlying factor structure, obtained in a data-driven manner, corresponds with the proposed structure of the test. The results revealed an appropriate model fit with the data, pointing to the fact that the three sections of UTEPT, i.e., structure, vocabulary, and reading, and their sub-components, except for the restatement section of reading, are good indicators of written language proficiency as assessed by the UTEPT. It was also found that the three sections assess distinctive constructs. The findings suggest that UTEPT is a valid measure of the written language proficiency of Ph.D. applicants to University of Tehran.

Purpose: The present study was done to introduce an efficient tool in the field of moral behavior. Material & Method: method of the study was correlational, its approach was test developing and its population was students of Islamic Azad University- Astara and Karaj branches. The study was conducted in three stages according to topic and was sampled in three steps. First, 328 students of Astara university were selected by the multistage sampling, in the second step 42 students of that university were selected by the available method and in the third step 277 students of Karaj university were selected by the multistage sampling. Findings: Data were analyzed by the principal component analysis, Pearson correlational coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis after collecting data by the questionnaire. Three factors structures of the moral behavior styles were extracted using principal component analysis in the first step of the research and named as people-oriented, task-oriented and self-centered. Then, using the Pearson correlational coefficient revealed that scores of the extracted components have acceptable test-retest reliability. In addition to concurrent validity, using confirmatory factor analyzing showed that the three factors structure of the moral behavior styles has acceptable fit whit the collected data, in the third step. Discussion: Totally, in the base of results concluded that three components moral behavior styles inventory has acceptable psychometric properties.

Perpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Friendship Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-F) in students. Methodology: In a descriptive-correlation and validation study, 216 and 226 graduate students from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad selected through multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using the Friendship Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Ryan & Connell, 1989), Basic Need Satisfaction in Relationships (LaGuardia, et all, 2002) and Subjective Vitality Scale-State level Version (Ryan & Frederick, 1997). Internal consistency, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and criterion validity were analyzed. Findings: The results showed that the scale had four-factor structure with the variance explained 67.20%. The confirmatory factor analysis was confirmed. The scale had good construction reliability. The criterion validity confirmed in relation to basic need satisfaction in relationships and subjective vitality in friendship (P≤0.01). Conclusion: The Friendship Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-F) had good internal consistency as well as exploratory and confirmatory validity in students. This questionnaire can be used as a valid instrument in future studies.

Background: Intellectual humility, as one of the important components of personality, plays a decisive role in decision-making, learning, and social interactions. Despite its importance, there are still limited valid tools for measuring this construct across the cultural context of Iran. Aims: The present study aimed to explore the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Intellectual Humility Scale of Alfano et al. (2017) among Iranian adults. Methods: The study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population included all adults in West Azerbaijan province in 2024. A sample of 573 people (19 to 72 years old) was selected using the Cochrane formula and a cluster-random sampling method. The instruments used included the Intellectual modesty Scale (Alfano et al., 2017), the Honesty-Humility subscale of the Hexagon-60 questionnaire (Ashton and Lee, 2009), Openness to Experience from the Big Five (Costa and McCrae, 1992), and the Need for Cognition Questionnaire (Cacioppo and Petty, 1982). Data analysis was undertaken using SPSS-22 and LISREL 8.80. For factor structure analysis, the sample was split into two parts; Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed on the first part, while Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed on the second part. Results: In the exploratory factor analysis, four factors of “open-mindedness”, “intellectual humility”, “corrigibility”, and “engagement” were identified, which were consistent with the theoretical structure of the scale. The CFA results confirmed the favorable fit of the model (fit indices are reported). Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability coefficients were higher than 0.70 and the average variance extracted (AVE) was higher than 0.50. Also, the McDonald's omega coefficient for the dimensions was obtained between 0.71 and 0.84. The scale indicated a significant positive correlation with honesty-humility, need for cognition and openness to experience at the 0.01 level, reflecting its convergent and concurrent validity. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that the Intellectual Humility Scale has good validity and reliability across the Iranian adult community and can be used as a valid tool in psychological research. However, the limitations of the study include focusing on one province and the self-report nature of the tools. It is suggested that future studies be conducted across more diverse communities and via multimodal methods.

Introduction and Objective: The Multidimensional Orientation Toward Dying and Death Inventory (MODDI-F) is a 47-item self-report scale. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the MODDI-F in a sample of Muslims. Research Methodology: In this study, which was a cross-sectional design, 465 individuals (220 men and 245 women) were selected by random sampling and completed the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the Death Obsession Scale (DOS), the Death Depression Scale (DDS), and the MODDI-F. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis and multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA). Findings: The factor analysis results using principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the MODDI-F was a multidimensional scale and four factors including fear of oneself death, fear of other’s death, death loneliness, and death acceptance explained the most variances respectively. Females had higher scores on the MODDI-F than males. In order to examine concurrent validity of the MODDI-F, the relations of the MODDI-F to the DAS, the DOS, and the DDS were investigated. The results showed that the MODDI-F had an appropriate concurrent validity. In addition, three types of reliability (test-retest, split-half, and internal consistency) were reported. Conclusion: Considering desirable psychometric properties of the MODDI-F in the present study, this scale can be used in research on death among Iranian people.