Applying the Rasch Model to the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment

Purpose: Measuring readiness for change is an important part of the treatment planning process for individuals with addiction and co-occurring disorders. The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) is a commonly used instrument in conjunction with motivational interviewing and has been endorsed by federal and several state substance abuse agencies. This study provides an alternative to classical test theory in determining the extent to which the URICA measures the complex concept of motivation for change in determining the stage of change of participants.Method: The Rasch model analysis was used to determine model-fit of the URICA in measuring motivation for change among participants (N=256) in a web-based recovery program.Results: The URICA did not exhibit model-fit. Items do not provide a step-wise difficulty level in measuring motivation for change. Category responses did not support a clear distribution between categories and responses.Discussion: Findings suggest that significant adaptations to the instrument are needed to ensure the specificity of items and discrete endorsement of more specific motivational factors among individuals seeking aftercare services.Conclusion: It is vital that social workers utilize standardized measures to support clinical decision-making. While the URICA is a commonly used instrument to measure motivation for change, the Rasch analysis supported findings from other analyses that the URICA failed to adequately predict motivation for change among participants.