Measuring dispositional optimism in student Veterans: An item response theory analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: The psychometric properties of the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) have been established among college students, yet psychometric evidence is lacking for a sample of student Veterans in postsecondary education.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the LOT-R for the assessment of dispositional optimism in student Veterans by using classical test theory (CTT) in conjunction with item response theory (IRT).

Method: A sample of 205 student Veterans were recruited from universities across the United States. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to test the unidimensionality of the LOT-R. A polychotomous IRT model using graded response model (GRM) was estimated. Reliability and concurrent validity of the LOT-R were tested.

Results: CTT in conjunction with IRT validated that the LOT-R is a psychometrically sound unidimensional instrument for assessing the levels of dispositional optimism in student Veterans. The LOT-R was found to be associated with hope, resilience, PERMA, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety in the theoretically expected directions. The internal consistency reliability coefficient was computed to be .86.

Conclusions: Given its reliability and validity and applicability among this specific population, clinicians, educators, and researchers might use the LOT-R to assess and monitor dispositional optimism among student Veterans.

KEYWORDS:

• Optimism
• student veterans
• item response theory
• classical test theory
• psychometrics

Acknowledgments

The contents of this article were developed with support from the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of People with Physical Disabilities. The RRTC was funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Grant H133B13001 to Virginia Commonwealth University.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Grant Number [H133B13001].