Uncovering potential interviewer-related biases in self-efficacy assessment : a study among chronic disease patients
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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date
2025-12
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en
Pages
11
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BMC Psychology, Volume 13, issue 1, pp. 1-11
Abstract
Background: Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to accomplish specific tasks and achieve goals, and plays an essential role in achieving positive outcomes in a wide range of domains. Central to the measurement of any form of self-efficacy is the assessment without bias, also in case of an interview situation. Methods: Outpatients with macular edema, an eye disease, participated in this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The study assessed self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) in German. Interviewers read questionnaires aloud to patients. Differential item functioning (DIF) was investigated using likelihood-ratio χ2 tests for interviewer, sex, age, education, working status, income, diagnosis, and health-status. Results: The analysis included N = 556 patients. Median age was 68.4 (IQR: 62.0 – 76.0) years and mean overall GSE score 32.8 (SD: 4.81). No DIF was detected for interviewer. However, DIF was found in item 1 for education (uniform DIF, NCDIFno degree vs. degree = 0.042; easier with degree vs. none), in item 1 and 3 for income (item 1: non-uniform DIF, NCDIF<€ 1,125 vs.≥€ 1,125≤€ 1,950 = 0.050 / NCDIF< € 1,125 vs.≥€ 1,950 = 0.099; item 3: uniform DIF, NCDIF<€ 1,125 vs.≥€ 1,125—≤€ 1,950 = 0.024 / NCDIF< € 1,125 vs.≥€ 1,950: 0.095; both easier with higher income), in item 2 for working status (uniform DIF, NCDIFretired vs. other = 0.017; easier if working) and in item 3 for sex (non-uniform DIF, NCDIFmale vs. female = 0.043; easier for women in low ability, harder for them from medium ability on). Conclusions: Given that no DIF was detected concerning interviewers, our findings indicate that an objective assessment of self-efficacy in a face-to-face interview may be feasible, provided that interviewers receive appropriate training. Since DIF effects concerning other patients characteristics found were small, the GSE may provide a relatively bias free way to assess self-efficacy in an interview setting.Description
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
Keywords
Administration mode, Differential item functioning, General self-efficacy scale, Interviewer bias, Item response theory
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Citation
Holter, M, Avian, A, Weger, M, Strini, S, Michelitsch, M, Winkler, V, Kloft, A M, Groß, J, Falb, T, Gabriel, M, Großpötzl, M, Wedrich, A & Berghold, A 2025, ' Uncovering potential interviewer-related biases in self-efficacy assessment : a study among chronic disease patients ', BMC Psychology, vol. 13, no. 1, 299, pp. 1-11 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02579-2