TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of the psychopathy checklist
T2 - youth version (PCL:YV) among male adolescent offenders: an item response theory analysis
AU - Tsang, Siny
AU - Piquero, Alex R.
AU - Cauffman, Elizabeth
PY - 2014/12
Y1 - 2014/12
N2 - This study examined the applicability of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV; Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2003) among a large sample of serious offending adolescent males. Adopting an item response theory approach, item properties of the PCL:YV were examined using the generalized partial credit model. Results showed that need for stimulation, "irresponsibility," and callous & unemotional were sensitive to changes in respondents' varying psychopathy levels, whereas lack of realistic, longterm goals; superficial charm; and revocation of conditional release were less so (quoted PCL:YV item published with permission by Multi-Health Systems, Inc.; see full permissions statement in footnote 1 in the article; other items are paraphrased). Substantial differential item functioning was also found in 15 of the 20 PCL:YV items among Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic offending boys, indicating that item functioning was not invariant across race/ethnicity. Questions remain regarding whether the construct of psychopathy as assessed with the PCL:YV is equivalent across adolescents in general and across different race/ethnic groups in particular.
AB - This study examined the applicability of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV; Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2003) among a large sample of serious offending adolescent males. Adopting an item response theory approach, item properties of the PCL:YV were examined using the generalized partial credit model. Results showed that need for stimulation, "irresponsibility," and callous & unemotional were sensitive to changes in respondents' varying psychopathy levels, whereas lack of realistic, longterm goals; superficial charm; and revocation of conditional release were less so (quoted PCL:YV item published with permission by Multi-Health Systems, Inc.; see full permissions statement in footnote 1 in the article; other items are paraphrased). Substantial differential item functioning was also found in 15 of the 20 PCL:YV items among Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic offending boys, indicating that item functioning was not invariant across race/ethnicity. Questions remain regarding whether the construct of psychopathy as assessed with the PCL:YV is equivalent across adolescents in general and across different race/ethnic groups in particular.
KW - Adolescent offenders
KW - Item response theory
KW - Psychopathy
KW - Psychopathy checklist: Youth version
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925786516&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0037500
DO - 10.1037/a0037500
M3 - Article
C2 - 25181395
AN - SCOPUS:84925786516
SN - 1040-3590
VL - 26
SP - 1333
EP - 1346
JO - Psychological Assessment
JF - Psychological Assessment
IS - 4
ER -