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GOR 2001 - content This is the http://kiwi.uni-psych.gwdg.de/congress/gor-2001/contrib/contrib/witthoeft-michael/witthoeft-michael Document. Main Author: Witthöft, Michael Co-Authors: Wilhelm, Oliver; Institution: Lehrstuhl Psychologie II, Universität Mannheim Contribution Title: WWW-based Studies on the Construct Validity of Cognitive Failure Questionnaires. Authors Email: witthoeft@tnt.psychologie.uni-mannheim.de URLs: http://www.psychologie.uni-mannheim.de/ Abstract German (version: 25/06/2002 - 07:47, size: 0) English: Cognitive failure is a construct of typical everyday behavior reflecting slips in attention and failures of memory. Measurement of cognitive failures differs from measurement of other types of ability in two ways: First, typical, as opposed to maximal, behavior is provoked; second, real life, instead of artificial situations are used. Prior studies have found no satisfactory measurement model for the self-report measures of the construct and there is a lack of evidence supporting construct validity of these measures. In a series of internet based studies, we investigated the factorial structure and the construct validity of two cognitive failure questionnaires, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses (SIML). One goal of the studies was to reevaluate previously proposed measurement models. A second goal was to assess the validity of the self-report measures. Measurement models were evaluated by administrating the CFQ and SIML to large heterogeneous samples and applying item response theory as well as structural equation modeling. Validity was assessed by critically evaluating an artifact explanation of individual differences (e.g. self-attention causes increased awareness of cognitive failures). Additionally, construct validity was tested by relating self-reported cognitive failures to real- life failures in everyday computer handling. First attempts to improve current self-report measures of cognitive failures were explored by changing the answer format of CFQ from relative to absolute frequencies. Measurement properties and evidence for the validity of the instruments, as well as the implications for a more adequate assessment of everyday cognitive failures, are discussed. Article preliminary article (version: 25/06/2002 - 07:47, size: 512) view preliminary article - edit preliminary article - upload an image(for authors only)