Development and validation of a couples measure of biased responding: The Marital Aggrandizement Scale

Norm O’rourke, Philippe Cappeliez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

More than 30 years ago, Edmonds (1967) recognized the need for a couples measure of biased responding. Like other categories of self-report instruments, marital measures are believed to be highly susceptible to distortion. In this study, we describe the development of the Marital Aggrandizement Scale (MAS). For this study, item analyses were performed on a subset of responses (n = 200). A priori inclusion criteria were applied from which a set of 18 items was selected. Three phases of validation research establish the reliability and validity of responses to the MAS among an international sample of older married adults (n = 410). The concurrent and discriminant validity of responses to this scale is demonstrated vis-à-vis separate measures of biased responding, marital satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Internal consistency was calculated as α =. 84. Test-retest reliability was calculated as r(200) =. 80 over an average interval of 15 months. The challenge remains to identify factors associated with the etiology and maintenance of this construct. Subsequent research is required to identify correlates and antecedents of marital aggrandizement across populations over time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-320
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Personality Assessment
Volume78
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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