<p>The first step is translation. Some projects have used a three-step process including 1) forward translation, 2) back translation, and 3) cultural adjustment.  Two translators would complete step one, two more would complete step two, and then the materials are sent to external people (preferably non-academics) for review.  <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/x976j" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a>'s (1) a preprint that describes that process.</p>
<p>Beyond that, the process is very much dependent on the measure being validated.  There are procedures to assess factor structure, measurement invariance, reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, predictive validity, etc.  This is a huge field of study and there's no way to provide an answer that would apply to any scale.  I would not assume that the measure was rigorously validated in the source in which you found it, unless you have the expertise to evaluate their methods and procedures.</p>
<p>I might try searching (or posting) on cross-validated to get information specific to the statistical approach.</p>
<p>I would think about whether you really want to conduct validation studies, or simply translate the measure as best you can.  Validation studies will take a long time and they're quite complex.  <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-014-0314-2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a>'s (2) one example of a scale that very much needed to be validated in another language, because of the substantive differences in the translation.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpFL5hI5qzw" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> is a video with someone talking about the EFA/CFA procedures.  I have not watched it and because it's such a complicated topic, I doubt they cover everything you need to know in the 25 minutes.</p>
<p><a href="https://web.pdx.edu/%7Enewsomj/pmclass/EFA%20and%20CFA.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> are some powerpoint slides that have more information from Classical Test Theory.  This is only one possible way to approach psychological measurement.  Another approach is Item Response Theory.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Forscher, P. S., Paris, B., Primbs, M., &amp; Coles, N. A. (2020). PSACR: The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 Rapid-Response Project.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Seema, R., Quaglia, J. T., Brown, K. W., Sircova, A., Konstabel, K., &amp; Baltin, A. (2015). The Estonian Mindful Attention Awareness Scale: Assessing mindfulness without a distinct linguistic present tense. Mindfulness, 6(4), 759-766.</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-12T07:33:06.850Z
Nice answer but you are assuming zero knowledge in psychometrics and scale validation which is a bit patronising. With your assumption I think it would be better to recommend OP to talk to someone with experience in scale validation or follow a course in psychometrics.
Aolon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-12T16:54:42.800Z
I do think it would be best to talk to someone with expertise!  Thanks for clarifying!
pep
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-11T21:53:17.160Z
2021-07-11T21:53:17.160Z
pep
<p>I am working on a project where I need to use a scale to measure certain psychological and political positions. I have a questionnaire that is used in the US, and whose validity was tested there quite well, but I need to use the scale in India.</p>
<p>I want to test the validity of the instrument in the Indian context, before using it for my study. I wanted to know the steps for testing different kinds of validity and reliability, the sample size required etc. Links to any good material to study these things (books/ video lectures/ notes/ other materials) would be of help, along with any comments or recommendations on what to do from your side.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-12T17:33:27.597Z
If you want to provide more detail, like the scale you're interested in using, that might help.
pep
<measurement><statistics><survey><validation><reliability>
Method and sample size to test validity and reliability of a scale/ survey
Ishan Kashyap Hazarika
# Method and sample size to test validity and reliability of a scale/ survey

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-03)

I am working on a project where I need to use a scale to measure certain psychological and political positions. I have a questionnaire that is used in the US, and whose validity was tested there quite well, but I need to use the scale in India.

I want to test the validity of the instrument in the Indian context, before using it for my study. I wanted to know the steps for testing different kinds of validity and reliability, the sample size required etc. Links to any good material to study these things (books/ video lectures/ notes/ other materials) would be of help, along with any comments or recommendations on what to do from your side.

**Tags:** measurement, statistics, survey, validation, reliability

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you want to provide more detail, like the scale you're interested in using, that might help.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-07-11. Score: 1

The first step is translation. Some projects have used a three-step process including 1) forward translation, 2) back translation, and 3) cultural adjustment. Two translators would complete step one, two more would complete step two, and then the materials are sent to external people (preferably non-academics) for review. [Here](https://psyarxiv.com/x976j)'s (1) a preprint that describes that process.

Beyond that, the process is very much dependent on the measure being validated. There are procedures to assess factor structure, measurement invariance, reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, predictive validity, etc. This is a huge field of study and there's no way to provide an answer that would apply to any scale. I would not assume that the measure was rigorously validated in the source in which you found it, unless you have the expertise to evaluate their methods and procedures.

I might try searching (or posting) on cross-validated to get information specific to the statistical approach.

I would think about whether you really want to conduct validation studies, or simply translate the measure as best you can. Validation studies will take a long time and they're quite complex. [Here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-014-0314-2)'s (2) one example of a scale that very much needed to be validated in another language, because of the substantive differences in the translation.

[Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpFL5hI5qzw) is a video with someone talking about the EFA/CFA procedures. I have not watched it and because it's such a complicated topic, I doubt they cover everything you need to know in the 25 minutes.

[Here](https://web.pdx.edu/%7Enewsomj/pmclass/EFA%20and%20CFA.pdf) are some powerpoint slides that have more information from Classical Test Theory. This is only one possible way to approach psychological measurement. Another approach is Item Response Theory.

1. Forscher, P. S., Paris, B., Primbs, M., & Coles, N. A. (2020). PSACR: The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 Rapid-Response Project.
2. Seema, R., Quaglia, J. T., Brown, K. W., Sircova, A., Konstabel, K., & Baltin, A. (2015). The Estonian Mindful Attention Awareness Scale: Assessing mindfulness without a distinct linguistic present tense. Mindfulness, 6(4), 759-766.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Nice answer but you are assuming zero knowledge in psychometrics and scale validation which is a bit patronising. With your assumption I think it would be better to recommend OP to talk to someone with experience in scale validation or follow a course in psychometrics.  
> **username_1**: I do think it would be best to talk to someone with expertise!  Thanks for clarifying!  

---

