Psychometric evaluation of the Working Alliance Inventory—Therapist version: Current and new short forms. (17th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hatcher, Robert L.; Lindqvist, Karin; Falkenström, Fredrik
• Is Part Of: Psychotherapy research. Volume 30:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 706
• Page End: 717
• Publication Date: 2020-08-17
• Subjects: alliance -- therapist alliance -- Working Alliance Inventory -- alliance measures -- measure development -- Bayesian SEM -- multi-level IRT; alleanza -- alleanza del terapeuta -- Working Alliance Inventory -- misure di alleanza -- sviluppo di misure -- SEM Bayesiano -- IRT multi-livello; aliança -- aliança do terapeuta -- Inventário de Aliança Terapêutica -- medidas de aliança -- desenvolvimento de medidas -- modelos de equações estruturais -- teoria de resposta ao item multinível; 同盟 -- 治療師同盟 -- 工作同盟量表 -- 測量同盟 -- 量表的編製 -- Bayesian 結構方程模式 -- 多層次項目反應理論; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Research -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychothérapie -- Périodiques; Psychothérapie -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 616.891405
• DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2019.1677964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-3307

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) and its short forms are widely used, although the properties of the therapists' versions have been little studied. Method: We examined the psychometric properties of two short forms (WAI-S-T, WAI-SR-T), and explored the creation of a psychometrically stronger short form using contemporary measure development techniques. Well-fitting items from the full 36-item WAI were identified in a development sample (131 therapists, 688 patients) using multi-level Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling, accounting for therapist rated effects. Multi-level Item Response Theory (IRT) methods aided creation of a revised short form (WAI-S-T-IRT). Factor structures of the three forms were assessed using multi-level ML estimation with robust standard errors. Results: Collinearity problems for the Goal and Task dimensions led to testing a two-factor model (Goal–Task, Bond). All three measures showed satisfactory fit; the WAI-S-T-IRT fit slightly better but differences were minor. Testing the structures in an independent sample ( N = 1117) yielded essentially the same results. No version showed strong measurement invariance. Discussion: Continued use of current therapist forms is supported; differentiation of theoretical dimensions is difficult with current measures, and may not be possible with self-report forms.