Here - Tilburg University

Author and presenter
Emons, Wilco H.M.; Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Title
On the Usefulness of Latent Variable Hybrid Models to Distinguish Categories
from Dimensions
Abstract
In this presentation, we discuss the usefulness of latent variable hybrid
models, including latent class item response theory and item response theory
mixture models, to distinguish qualitative from quantitative individual differences
on multidimensional psychological attributes. Different latent variable hybrid
approaches will be discussed and contrasted with traditional approaches
including taxometrics. Results from empirical data analysis and simulation
studies will be presented and limitations and implications for future research will
be discussed. As an example, we use distressed personality, which refers to a
general propensity to psychological distress defined by the combination of two
distinct personality attributes, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI).
Currently, persons are categorized as Type D if they score above a certain cutoff
on both NA and SI dimension and as non-Type D otherwise. We used latent
variable hybrid models to advance the current debate as to whether individual
differences in distressed personality should be conceived as representing gradual
differences on its constituent continuous NA and SI dimensions rather than as a
categorical Type D/non-Type D dichotomy.