This study investigated item and scale functioning in the triarchic psychopathy measure (TriPM) using an item response theory (IRT) analysis. TriPM data collected from 937 (410 men and 527 women) college students and community members were analyzed. A graded response model was utilized to analyze the items comprising the TriPM's three scales. Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) supported the unidimensionality of the Disinhibition and Meanness scales, whereas Boldness was best represented by two domains. Each TriPM scale was found to include some items that had limited ability to differentiate between respondents possessing varying levels of the trait being measured. Across all scales, 34 items (61%) yielded evidence of significantly different responding between men and women possessing similar levels of the underlying trait, or differential item functioning (DIF). The scoring format (i.e., directly scored vs. reverse scored) also influenced item functioning, especially when the given scale included a large majority of one scoring type. Overall, the IRT and DIF results suggest that the TriPM effectively identifies disinhibition and meanness in individuals possessing high levels of those traits, and boldness at lower levels, but does not seem to identify these traits equally well in men and women. Possible revisions to the Boldness scale as well as ideas for addressing female and male DIF were provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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三重性精神病测度的项目反应理论分析。

本研究使用项目反应理论（IRT）分析了三级精神病测评（TriPM）中项目和量表的功能。分析了从937名（410名男性和527名女性）大学生和社区成员中收集的TriPM数据。利用分级响应模型来分析包含TriPM的三个量表的项目。探索性因素分析（EFAs）支持Disinhibition和Meanness量表的一维性，而Boldness最好由两个域表示。发现每个TriPM量表都包括一些项目，这些项目在区分拥有不同水平特征的被调查者的能力方面具有有限的区分能力。在所有范围内，有34个项目（占61％）的证据表明，具有基本特征水平相似的男性和女性之间的反应差异很大，或差异项功能（DIF）。评分方式（即直接评分与反向评分）也会影响项目的功能，尤其是当给定的量表包括一种评分类型的大部分时。总体而言，IRT和DIF结果表明，TriPM有效地识别了具有较高特征水平的个体的抑制力和卑鄙度，而较低水平则具有大胆的特征，但在男性和女性中似乎并不能很好地识别这些特征。提供了对“大胆”量表的可能修订以及解决男性和女性DIF的想法。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2021 APA，保留所有权利）。IRT和DIF的结果表明，TriPM有效地识别了具有较高特征水平的个体的抑制力和卑鄙度，而较低水平则具有大胆的特征，但在男性和女性中似乎并不能很好地识别这些特征。提供了对“大胆”量表的可能修订，以及解决女性和男性DIF的想法。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2021 APA，保留所有权利）。IRT和DIF的结果表明，TriPM有效地识别了具有较高特征水平的个体的抑制力和卑鄙度，而较低水平则具有大胆的特征，但在男性和女性中似乎并不能很好地识别这些特征。提供了对“大胆”量表的可能修订以及解决男性和女性DIF的想法。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2021 APA，保留所有权利）。