Development and validation of a multidimensional measure of dissociative ability /
Dissociative ability has been proposed as a universal trait that all individuals possess to some degree. This ability may act as a diathesis with trauma that leads to the formation of a dissociative disorder, or may simply manifest as a normal, nonpathological phenomenon. This study attempted to cre...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2003.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=764887801&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Dissociative ability has been proposed as a universal trait that all individuals possess to some degree. This ability may act as a diathesis with trauma that leads to the formation of a dissociative disorder, or may simply manifest as a normal, nonpathological phenomenon. This study attempted to create an instrument for the measurement of dissociative ability for use in clinical and nonclinical populations. Test items were generated and subjected to confirmatory factor analyses with two independent student populations. Five subspaces were supported by the data: Create Own Environment, Forget or Block Memories, Absorption, Disconnect From Pain, and Automatize Behaviors. A hierarchical factor analysis confirmed the existence of one latent exogenous variable unifying the whole instrument, presumably that of dissociative ability. The full Dissociative Ability Scale (DAS) displayed good convergent and discriminant validity, and was robust against socially desirable responding. A discriminant classification analysis demonstrated that the DAS was better at discriminating a clinical dissociative group from nonclinical student and actor/roleplayer groups than at discriminating the posited high dissociative ability groups (dissociative patients and actors/roleplayers) from the posited low dissociative ability group (student sample). However, the results of an analysis of covariance indicated that the DAS appeared to measure not only clinical dissociation, but nonclinical dissociation as well. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Psychology". |
| Physical Description: | viii, 52 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-50). |