Rasch Analysis of the Outcome Questionnaire With African Americans

• In Event: Studies in Rasch Conditions and Applications

Abstract

Effectively diagnosing African Americans’ mental health with a single intake checklist such as the Outcome Questionnaire has posed an unresolved challenge. Rasch analysis was used to assess the psychometric characteristics of a common measure of clinical distress, the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ; Lambert, Lunnen, Umphress, Hansen, & Burlingame, 1994) for two samples of African American students. Consistent with the literature regarding African Americans’ mental health, the OQ scales were first identified that held up under cross-validation with a second sample. Two subscales, titled “well-being” and “distress” were identified. Response scale use was appropriate, person separation was adequate, stability across samples was strong, and little differential item functioning was found. Implications for theory and research on multicultural mental health scales are discussed.

Authors

• Ruth C.L. Chao, University of Denver

• Kathy E. Green, University of Denver