Psychometric properties of the mock interview rating scale for autistic transition-age youth

Employment is a major contributor to quality of life. However, autistic people are often unemployed and underemployed. One potential barrier to employment is the job interview. However, the availability of psychometrically-evaluated assessments of job interviewing skills is limited for autism servic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in psychiatry 2023, Vol.14, p.1235056
Main Authors: Smith, Matthew J, Sherwood, Kari L, Genova, Helen M, Ross, Brittany, DaWalt, Leann Smith, Bishop, Lauren, Telfer, David, Brown, Cheryl, Sanchez, Barbara, Kallen, Michael A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
autism
employment
job interview skills assessment
psychometric properties
transition-age youth
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Summary:Employment is a major contributor to quality of life. However, autistic people are often unemployed and underemployed. One potential barrier to employment is the job interview. However, the availability of psychometrically-evaluated assessments of job interviewing skills is limited for autism services providers and researchers. We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Mock Interview Rating Scale that was adapted for research with autistic transition-age youth (A-MIRS; a comprehensive assessment of video-recorded job interview role-play scenarios using anchor-based ratings for 14 scripted job scenarios). Eighty-five transition-age youth with autism completed one of two randomized controlled trials to test the effectiveness of two interventions focused on job interview skills. All participants completed a single job interview role-play at pre-test that was scored by raters using the A-MIRS. We analyzed the structure of the A-MIRS using classical test theory, which involved conducting both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes, Rasch model analysis and calibration techniques. We then assessed internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Pearson correlations were used to assess the A-MIRS' construct, convergent, divergent, criterion, and predictive validities by comparing it to demographic, clinical, cognitive, work history measures, and employment outcomes. Results revealed an 11-item unidimensional construct with strong internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Construct [pragmatic social skills (  = 0.61,  
ISSN:1664-0640
1664-0640
DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1235056