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Feedback PYC4804 Assignment 01 2022
Personology (University of South Africa)
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
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Feedback: PYC4804 Assignment 01
Question 01 Rate: 4
Item 1 is formulated correctly if:
(a) the item is not using psychological jargon and is formulated in
everyday language
(b) the item is not leading
(c) the item is not likely to elicit a socially desirable response
(d) the item is not likely to elicit a minimalist answer
(e) the item is not ambiguous
The item is not formulated using psychological jargon and is
framed in everyday, easy-to-understand language, which all
respondents should be able to interpret and understand.
The item does not lead respondents to answer the question in a
particular way – respondents are free to choose from the two
available response options without being led to choose one
statement over the other.
The item is not likely to elicit a socially desirable response – there
is no social imperative that dictates that planning one’s daily
activities is more socially desirable than not planning one’s daily
activities. People differ with respect to their beliefs about how to
approach their daily activities – some may prefer to plan their day
while others may believe that it is not possible to plan daily
activities because changing circumstances dictate what needs to
be done. Neither of the responses is therefore likely to make a
respondent look more socially acceptable or desirable.
The item is not likely to elicit a minimalist answer – a minimalist
answer is one that offers less than the anticipated information. In
this case, the item is a closed-ended item (rather than an open-
ended item), meaning that the response categories are predefined
- the responses sought by the item are predetermined and
contained within the item itself (unlike open-ended items where
respondents have to produce their own responses). Given the
predefined response categories, the range of possible responses
is therefore determined by the item itself. In other words, the
format of the item does not require that respondents provide
information in addition to the information that is elicited in the
response categories. In this instance, the item requires that a
respondent indicate his/her response as ‘Agree’ or ‘Disagree’.
Respondents cannot offer less information than ‘Agree’ or
‘Disagree’.
The item is ambiguous due to its double response nature:
Respondents are asked to indicate which of the two statements
are true or false, but the available response options are ‘Agree’
and ‘Disagree’. The problem here is that respondents do not know
whether selecting ‘Agree’ indicates that one believes the first
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statement to be true and the second statement to be false. Or
does selecting ‘Agree’ indicate that the second statement is true
and the first is false? Similarly, does selecting ‘Disagree’ indicate
disbelief in the truth of the first or second statement? The item is
therefore considered ambiguous.
Given that four of the five criteria contained in the rating scale
have been met, a rating of 4 is assigned for the formulation of the
item.
Question 02 Rate: 4
Item 1 is grounded in theory if:
(a) the theory the item is based on is correct
(b) the item implements the theory it is based on correctly
(c) the item operates correctly in terms of the theory it is based on
The theory that the item is based on is correct: The theory cited in
the item’s justification states that internals believe in their ability to
exercise control over their behaviour and environments, whereas
externals believe that their behavior is determined by
circumstances beyond their control. This theoretical statement is
a correct interpretation of the notion of internal-external locus of
control.
The item also correctly implements the theory it is based on.
Implementation refers to how the theory is translated into ordinary
language in the item: It is correct to translate an internal locus of
control into believing that ‘One can plan daily activities despite
changing circumstances’. Internals believe that they are able to
exercise control over (to plan) daily activities in spite of changing
circumstances. An external locus of control is also correctly
signified by the statement that ‘It is not possible to plan one’s daily
activities because circumstances change’. Externals believe that
because circumstances change, it is not possible to exercise
control over (to plan) daily activities.
The next sub-criterion in the scale refers to how the item operates
in terms of the theory. Even though the theory is correctly
implemented in the statements from which a respondent must
choose, the double response nature of the item means one is not
sure whether the response ‘Agree’ indicates a belief in the truth of
the first or second statement. Similarly, does the response
‘Disagree’ indicates a disbelief in the truth of the first or second
statement? The item fails to make the required distinctions and
thus does not operate correctly in terms of the theory on which it
is based.
Given that sub-criteria ‘a’ and ‘b’ are met, a rating of 4 is assigned.
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Feedback PYC4804 Assignment 01 2022
Personology (University of South Africa)
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by Shaheedah ()
, lOMoARcPSD|24766849
Feedback: PYC4804 Assignment 01
Question 01 Rate: 4
Item 1 is formulated correctly if:
(a) the item is not using psychological jargon and is formulated in
everyday language
(b) the item is not leading
(c) the item is not likely to elicit a socially desirable response
(d) the item is not likely to elicit a minimalist answer
(e) the item is not ambiguous
The item is not formulated using psychological jargon and is
framed in everyday, easy-to-understand language, which all
respondents should be able to interpret and understand.
The item does not lead respondents to answer the question in a
particular way – respondents are free to choose from the two
available response options without being led to choose one
statement over the other.
The item is not likely to elicit a socially desirable response – there
is no social imperative that dictates that planning one’s daily
activities is more socially desirable than not planning one’s daily
activities. People differ with respect to their beliefs about how to
approach their daily activities – some may prefer to plan their day
while others may believe that it is not possible to plan daily
activities because changing circumstances dictate what needs to
be done. Neither of the responses is therefore likely to make a
respondent look more socially acceptable or desirable.
The item is not likely to elicit a minimalist answer – a minimalist
answer is one that offers less than the anticipated information. In
this case, the item is a closed-ended item (rather than an open-
ended item), meaning that the response categories are predefined
- the responses sought by the item are predetermined and
contained within the item itself (unlike open-ended items where
respondents have to produce their own responses). Given the
predefined response categories, the range of possible responses
is therefore determined by the item itself. In other words, the
format of the item does not require that respondents provide
information in addition to the information that is elicited in the
response categories. In this instance, the item requires that a
respondent indicate his/her response as ‘Agree’ or ‘Disagree’.
Respondents cannot offer less information than ‘Agree’ or
‘Disagree’.
The item is ambiguous due to its double response nature:
Respondents are asked to indicate which of the two statements
are true or false, but the available response options are ‘Agree’
and ‘Disagree’. The problem here is that respondents do not know
whether selecting ‘Agree’ indicates that one believes the first
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statement to be true and the second statement to be false. Or
does selecting ‘Agree’ indicate that the second statement is true
and the first is false? Similarly, does selecting ‘Disagree’ indicate
disbelief in the truth of the first or second statement? The item is
therefore considered ambiguous.
Given that four of the five criteria contained in the rating scale
have been met, a rating of 4 is assigned for the formulation of the
item.
Question 02 Rate: 4
Item 1 is grounded in theory if:
(a) the theory the item is based on is correct
(b) the item implements the theory it is based on correctly
(c) the item operates correctly in terms of the theory it is based on
The theory that the item is based on is correct: The theory cited in
the item’s justification states that internals believe in their ability to
exercise control over their behaviour and environments, whereas
externals believe that their behavior is determined by
circumstances beyond their control. This theoretical statement is
a correct interpretation of the notion of internal-external locus of
control.
The item also correctly implements the theory it is based on.
Implementation refers to how the theory is translated into ordinary
language in the item: It is correct to translate an internal locus of
control into believing that ‘One can plan daily activities despite
changing circumstances’. Internals believe that they are able to
exercise control over (to plan) daily activities in spite of changing
circumstances. An external locus of control is also correctly
signified by the statement that ‘It is not possible to plan one’s daily
activities because circumstances change’. Externals believe that
because circumstances change, it is not possible to exercise
control over (to plan) daily activities.
The next sub-criterion in the scale refers to how the item operates
in terms of the theory. Even though the theory is correctly
implemented in the statements from which a respondent must
choose, the double response nature of the item means one is not
sure whether the response ‘Agree’ indicates a belief in the truth of
the first or second statement. Similarly, does the response
‘Disagree’ indicates a disbelief in the truth of the first or second
statement? The item fails to make the required distinctions and
thus does not operate correctly in terms of the theory on which it
is based.
Given that sub-criteria ‘a’ and ‘b’ are met, a rating of 4 is assigned.
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