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A Psychometric Analysis of the Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire (ESCQ-45) Using Item Response Theory

The Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire (ESCQ-45) was investigated by means of item response theory (IRT) modeling in a large cross- cultural sample (N = 5081 students from 13 countries). Different unidimensional polytomous IRT models (partial credit model, PCM ; generalized partial credit model, GPCM ; rating score model, RSM and graded response model, GRM) were compared with a multidimensional GRM model. We assessed model fit using an index, M2, which is specifically designed to assess the fit of item response models for ordinal data. We used the M2- based root mean square error of approximation as the primary fit index. We also used the standardized root mean square residual (SRMSR) and comparative fit index (CFI) to assess adequacy of model fit. After a series of comparisons, the findings indicated that the multidimensional GRM model was superior to all of the unidimensional models. In addition to global model-data fit and comparison, we assessed the item- level model data fit. For this assessment, we used a recommended index S-X2 and its RMSEA value, which was under the cut-off value of .06 for all items, indicating an adequate fit and substantive link of items to the latent trait. Once we established the adequacy of model and item fit, we computed both unidimensional and multidimensional item parameters. Slope (a) parameters ranged from 0.24 to 2.24, with Item 23 being most discriminating and Item 1 the least discriminating item of the scale. The location (b) parameters indicated that responses cover a wide range of the latent traits. The correlations between the latent traits were between .56 and .63. In addition, we analyzed all of the items individually using their category characteristic and item information curves, and the scale as a whole using scale information and scale characteristic curve. At the global level, the ESCQ-45 showed very good precision across most of the latent trait range.

item response theory, multidimensional, graded response model, R, emotional competence, ESCQ-45

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