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Handedness scale: how many and which items?
1INSERM U169, 16 avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France.
Laterality
|January 1, 1997
Summary
This study determined the optimal number of items for a reliable handedness scale. A 10-12 item scale is best for adults, while 8 items suffice for children, maximizing the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient (CAC).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychometrics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Assessing handedness is crucial in various research fields.
- Existing handedness scales vary in length and reliability.
- Optimizing scale length can improve efficiency and data quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the minimum number of items for a reliable handedness scale.
- To maximize the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient (CAC) for handedness assessment.
- To compare reliability across different age groups (adults and children).
Main Methods:
- Stepwise analysis of the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient (CAC).
- Evaluation across five large adult and child samples.
- Item reduction analysis for handedness questionnaires.
Main Results:
- For adults, a 10-12 item handedness scale demonstrates comparable or superior reliability (CAC) to longer scales.
- For children, an 8-item scale appears reliable, with potential for slight improvement with more items.
- The study discusses the utility of assessing the 'general handedness factor' and its population distribution.
Conclusions:
- A concise handedness scale (10-12 items for adults, 8 for children) can achieve maximum reliability.
- Item reduction in handedness scales is feasible and beneficial.
- Further research may explore the implications of the general handedness factor.