Definition
The relationship (correlation) between separate scales or subscales.
Description
The value between +1 and −1 that represents the correlation between two scales is the interscale correlation. In quality of life literature, interscale correlations are used frequently (Aaronson et al., 1993; Borghede & Sullivan, 1996; Fekkes et al., 2000; Hearn & Higginson, 1997). A researcher may choose to determine the interscale correlation in situations in which she/he has multiple scales and wants to investigate the relationship between the variables that those scales are measuring. Depending on the nature of the research, a high or low interscale correlation could be sought after.
In the case of a validity study, a researcher may want to examine how similar a newly created scale is to another scale that is deemed to be a “gold standard.” Finding that the researcher’s scale has a high correlation with the other scale would lend itself to evidence of convergent validity. Conversely,...
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References
Aaronson, N. K., Ahmedzai, S., Bergman, B., Bullinger, M., Cull, A., Duez, N. J., et al. (1993). The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: A quality-of-life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 85, 365–376.
Borghede, G., & Sullivan, M. (1996). Measurement of quality of life in localized prostatic cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Development of a prostate cancer- specific module supplementing the EORTC QLQ-C30. Quality of Life Research, 5, 212–222.
Fekkes, M., Theunissen, N. C. M., Brugman, E., Veen, S., Verrips, E. G. H., Koopman, H. M., et al. (2000). Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the TAPQOL: A health related quality of life instrument for 1-5-year-old children. Quality of Life Research, 9(8), 961–972.
Hearn, J., & Higginson, I. J. (1997). Outcome measures in palliative care for advanced cancer patients: A review. Journal of Public Health, 19, 193–199.
Trochim, W. M. (2006). Research methods knowledge base. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/mtmmmat.php
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Lyons-Thomas, J. (2014). Interscale Correlations. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1519
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