Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Van Whitlock.
Four levels of depression were established on the ST-Depression Adjective Check Lists in terms of the following criterion measures: the Beck Depression Inventory, the MMPI Depression Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
A scoring key containing adjectives from the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R) at or below the Grade 6 reading level (MAACL-R6) was used to rescore data from two nonreferred samples (college students, ns = 52 and 78) and one referred sample of 202 from a community mental health center outpatient clinic. Reliability (measures of internal consistency and test-retest) and validity (correlations with five 5-point self-rating mood scales) were almost as high as those for the MAACL-R, and convergence among the MAACL-R6 scales was not increased. Means for the referred group were significantly higher.
A critical item scale for the Depression Adjective Check Lists was developed on two psychiatric patient samples and a college student sample. Items that differentiated the nondepressed from the severely depressed subgroup of a community mental health center were cross-validated in the other two samples. A four-adjective Critical Item Scale thereby was constructed for each list of Set 2 (E, F, G) of the Depression Adjective Check Lists.
Adequate reliability (internal consistency, and alternate form), and validity (concurrent, convergent, and discriminant) of the state version of Set 1 (lists A, B, C, D) and Set 2 (lists E, F, G) of the Depression Adjective Check Lists with two adolescent samples: F = 35, M = 29; F = 294, M = 244) were demonstrated. The lists also were shown to be sufficiently sensitive for use in measuring short-term mood. Significant grade effect was found on two of the lists of Set 1 and a significant sex effect was found on each of the lists of Set 2.
The reliability and validity of the trait form of the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL) for Sets 1 and 2 were determined with adolescents in Grades 7 to 9 (Set 1) and Grades 8 to 12 (Set 2). Internal consistency, split-half, test-retest, and alternate form reliability were high, as was convergent and discriminant validity. Results of ANOVAs (Sex x Grade) and subsequent t tests for significant effects are reported. The performances of adolescents on the state and trait forms of Set 1 and Set 2 of the DACL were compared.
To study the reliability of Set 1 (A, B, C, D) and Set 2 (E, F, G) of the state and trait forms of the Depression Adjective Check Lists in university counseling centers, four independent studies were conducted. Reliability (internal consistency, split-half, and alternate form) and validity (convergent and discriminant) for both sets and both forms were sufficiently high to warrant use for research and clinical purposes. Additional research needs were mentioned.