Use of the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule to measure positive and negative affect-emotions

What is it about?

The aim of this paper was to show evidence of the internal structure of one of the world's most widely used self-report measures of positive and negative emotions-affects, the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS). In other words, we wanted to answer the following question: is it valid to interpret PANAS scores as measuring two distinguishable variables, i.e. 1- positive affect, 2- negative affect? In the present paper we show evidence in favour of the latter, i.e., evidence of validity with respect to being able to use the PANAS to measure two variables, positive and negative affect.

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Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Showing evidence of validity of certain inferences or interpretations derived from test scores (i.e. construct validity) is a necessary and essential step. In this case, if an instrument were developed to measure positive and negative affect-emotions, but was nevertheless not valid for those purposes (i.e. the scale does not measure emotions but a different variable), the conclusions derived from the scores obtained would be erroneous. This is not only relevant for the scientific sector but also for the clinical and applied sector. In the area of scientific research, the validity of the measures used has a direct impact on the validity of the results and conclusions derived from a given study. In the clinical and applied field, validity is a topic of great relevance since the use of instruments that are not valid for their intended purpose may lead to erroneous decision-making (e.g., indicating depression in a person who does not have it, or not indicating depression in a person who does have it).

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