Staff

1. Testa Silvia (Coordinator)
2. Loera Barbara Lucia (Member)
3. Rosato Rosalba (Member)
4. Ricolfi Luca (Member)
5. Settanni Michele (Member)
6. Molinengo Giorgia (Member)
7. Marengo Davide (Member)
8. Toscano Anna (Member)
9. Andrea Giordano (Member)

Contacts

• Send email to members

ERC Sectors

Activity

MeMPsyC group is focused on the measurement of psychological constructs and the development and application of quantitative methods of data analysis. The group members collaborate with researchers from several areas of psychology and applied research and the close contact with different contexts of empirical research stimulates the application of innovative methodological approaches.

The main lines of research are briefly outlined as follows.

[1] Development and validation of measurement instruments and algorithms for quantitative data analysis

The group contributes to the development of new instruments and to the assessment of psychometric properties of existing psychological instruments and tests, adopting both classic (CTT, factor analysis) and modern (IRT, MIRT) measurement approaches.

• Measurement in Clinical, Social and Work Psycology
• Measurement in Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Methods

[2] Modeling and evaluating the efficacy of psychological intervention

Evaluating the efficacy of interventions in psychological and clinical domains represents a very fertile field of study, given the methodological difficulties involved and the increasing attention of institutions to quantifying the results and monitoring the outcomes. Our group deals with studying and applying innovative methods for evaluating outcomes and developing and testing models that explain how the interventions work.

[3] Well-being and Quality of life assessment

Assessing and promoting Well-being and Quality of life is a central topic in many fields of research in social sciences and it has gradually acquired a role of primary importance in the development of public policies. The work of our group focuses on the latest developments in methods for evaluating well-being and quality of life, contributing to the theoretical understanding and assessment of the construct.

[4] Psychoinformatics

The pychoinformatics research area uses tools and techniques created in the fields of information and computer science to improve the acquisition, organization, and construction of psychological data. In particular, the pervasive spread of the Internet, and the growing success of online platforms that facilitate the sharing of content by users, such as social network and microblogging sites, have favored the recent development of research using data shared by online users for the study and prediction of psychosocial constructs at the individual level, such as personality, well-being, and behavior.

Collaborations

• Alessandra Solari- Unit of Neuroepidemiology, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
• Véronique Sebille-Rivain, Professor of Biostatistics at University of Nantes, France- Doctoral thesis co-tutorship.
• European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT)
• Società Italiana Psicoterapia della Gestalt (SIPG)
• Simona Bo, Associate Professor- scienze tecniche dietetiche applicate, University of Torino
• Renato Miceli, Full professor–Psychometrics, University of Valle D’Aosta
  
  

Research fundings

• [2019-2021] Analisi e miglioramento del test di orientamento Arianna. 6.500€ Comune di Torino.
• [2016-2018] Progetto SORPASSO INSIEME Fattori di riSchiO e pRotezione risPetto Alla disperSione ScOlastica in adolescenza: INSIEME a scuola per vivere meglio. 7.000€ Fondazione CRT.
• [2015-2017] Relationships among Social Network Sites user –generated data and psychological and behavioral variables: a preliminary study”, 7.200€ Dipartimento di Psicologia, ricerca scientifica finanziata dall’Universita’ di Torino, Linea B
• [2014-2017] Valutazione del funzionamento del Test di orientamento Arianna in uso al Centro di Orientamento Scolastico e Professionale della Città di Torino. 6.000€ Comune di Torino.
• [2013-2015] An abbreviated computerized version of the MSQOL-54: Development and preliminary validation using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory. 110.000€ FISM: Fondazione Nazionale Sclerosi Multipla.

Specialized data analysis software

• Winsteps
• Facets
• Irtpro
• Conquest
• Lisrel,
• Mplus
• Nlogit

Publications

[1] Development and validation of measurement instruments and algorithms for quantitative data analysis

• Measurement in Clinical, Social and Work Psychology

Badenes-Ribera, L., Frias-Navarro, D., Settanni, M., Longobardi, C. (2019). Validation of the Beliefs about Children's Adjustment in Same-Sex Families Scale in Italian University Students. Journal of Homosexuality. (in press).

Marengo, D., Settanni, M., & Giannotta, F. (2019). Development and preliminary validation of an image-based instrument to assess depressive symptoms. Psychiatry research.

Di Tella, M., Ghiggia, A., Testa, S., Castelli, L., & Adenzato, M. (2019). The Fear of Pain Questionnaire: Factor structure, validity and reliability of the Italian translation. PloS one, 14(1), e0210757.

Converso, D., Loera, B., Molinengo, G., Viotti, S., & Guidetti, G. (2018). Not all academics are alike: First validation of the academics' quality of life at work scale (AQoLW). Frontiers in Psychology, 9(DEC)

Loera, B., Brondino, M., Civilleri, A., Ingusci, E., Pace, F., Pasini, M., & Converso, D. (2018). Well-being in the italian public administration. evaluating the validity of CIVIT/ANAC questionnaire. [L'attenzione per il benessere organizzativo nella pubblica amministrazione italiana: Analisi critica del questionario CIVIT/ANAC] Psicologia Sociale, 13(3), 267-296. doi:10.1482/91433

Loera, B., Molinengo, G., Miniotti, M., & Leombruni, P. (2018). Refining the frommelt attitude toward the care of the dying scale (FATCOD-B) for medical students: A confirmatory factor analysis and rasch validation study.Palliative and Supportive Care, 16(1), 50-59.

Molinengo, G., Baiardini, I., Braido, F., & Loera, B. (2018). RhinAsthma patient perspective: A rasch validation study. Journal of Asthma, 55(2), 119-123.

Molina, P., Casonato, M., Sala, M. N., & Testa, S. (2018). The Factor Structure of the CA-MIR as Evaluated Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 190.

Ghirardello, D., Munari, J., Testa, S., Torta, R., Veglia, F., & Civilotti, C. (2018). Italian adaptation of the brief modified experiences in close relationships scale in a sample of cancer patients: factor analysis and clinical implications. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome.

Marengo, D., Giannotta, F., & Settanni, M. (2017). Assessing personality using emoji: An exploratory study. Personality and Individual Differences, 112, 74-78.

Mazzeo, AT, Filippini, C, Rosato, R, Fanelli, V, Assenzio, B, Piper, I, Howells, T, Mastromauro, I, Berardino, M, Ducati, A, Mascia, L (2016)  Multivariate projection method to investigate inflammation associated with secondary insults and outcome after human traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.  https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1577472 

Bosco, F. M., Gabbatore, I., Tirassa, M., & Testa, S. (2016). Psychometric properties of the Theory of Mind Assessment Scale in a sample of adolescents and adults. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 566.

Sperlinga R, Campagna S, Berruti A, Laciura P, Ginosa I, Paoletti S, Giuliano PL, Tucci M, Rosato R, Scagliotti GV, Saini A. (2015) Alberta Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool: A validation multicentre study in cancer patients with breakthrough pain. European journal of pain (London, England) 19(7) 881-8 [DOI  PMID]

Maria Nives Sala, Silvia Testa, Francisco Pons, Paola Molina (2015) Emotion Regulation and Defense Mechanisms. https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1508669

Roccato M , Rosato R , Mosso C , Russo S (2014) Measurement properties of the system justification scale: A Rasch analysis. https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/155909

Pagano E, Gray A, Rosato R, Gruden G, Perin PC, Merletti F, Bruno G. (2013) Prediction of mortality and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes: validation of the UKPDS Outcomes Model in the Casale Monferrato Survey, Italy. Diabetologia 56(8) 1726-34 [DOI  PMID]

• Measurement in Developmental and Educational Psychology

Testa S., Toscano A., Rosato R. (2018). Distractor efficiency in an item pool for statistics classroom exam: assessing its relation with items’ cognitive level classified according to Bloom’s Taxonomy. Frontiers in psychology, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1664-1078, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01585

Longobardi, C., Pasta, T., Marengo, D., Prino, L. E., & Settanni, M. (2018). Measuring Quality of Classroom Interactions in Italian Primary School: Structural Validity of the CLASS K–3. The Journal of Experimental Education, 1-20.

Longobardi, C., Gastaldi, F. G. M., Prino, L. E., Pasta, T., & Settanni, M. (2016). Examining Student-teacher Relationship from Students’ Point of View: Italian Adaptation and Validation of the Young Children’s Appraisal of Teacher Support Questionnaire. Open Psychology Journal, 9, 176-187.

Settanni, M., Longobardi, C., Sclavo, E., Fraire, M., & Prino, L. E. (2015). Development and psychometric analysis of the student–teacher relationship scale – short form. Frontiers in psychology, 6, (898). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00898

Bulgarelli, D., Testa, S., & Molina, P. (2015). Factorial structure of the ‘ToM Storybooks’: a test evaluating multiple components of theory of mind. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 33(2), 187-202.

• Methods

Marengo, D., Miceli, R., Rosato, R., & Settanni, M. (2018). Placing Multiple Tests on a Common Scale Using a Post-Test Anchor Design: Effects of Item Position and Order on the Stability of Parameter Estimates. Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 4, 50.

Marengo, D., Miceli, R., Settanni, M. (2016). Do mixed item formats threaten test unidimensionality? Results from a standardized math achievement test”. TPM - Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology. 23(1), 25-36. Doi: 10.4473/TPM23.1.2

Miceli, R., Marengo, D., Molinengo, G., Settanni, M. (2015). Emerging problems and IRT-based operational solutions in large-scale programs of student assessment: The Italian case. TPM - Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 22, (1), 53-70. doi: 10.4473/TPM22.1.5

[2] Modeling and evaluating the efficacy of psychological intervention

Solari, Alessandra, Giordano, Andrea, Patti, Francesco, Grasso, Maria Grazia, Confalonieri, Paolo, Palmisano, Lucia, Ponzio, Michela, Borreani, Claudia, ROSATO, Rosalba, Veronese, Simone, Zaratin, Paola, Battaglia, Mario Alberto (2017). Randomized controlled trial of a home-based palliative approach for people with severe multiple sclerosis. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1352-4585, doi: 10.1177/1352458517704078

PONZO, VALENTINA, ROSATO, Rosalba, Tarsia, E, GOITRE, ILARIA, DE MICHIELI, Franco, Fadda, M, Monge, T, Pezzana, A, BROGLIO, Fabio, BO, Simona (2017). Self-reported adherence to diet and preferences towards type of meal plan in patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A cross-sectional study.. NMCD. NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, vol. 27, p. 642-650, ISSN: 0939-4753, doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2017.05.007

Longobardi, C., Prino, L. E., Fabris, M. A., & Settanni, M. (2019). Soap bubbles as a distraction technique in the management of pain, anxiety, and fear in children at the paediatric emergency room: A pilot study. Child: care, health and development, 45(2), 300-305.

Mulasso, A., Roppolo, M., Liubicich, M.E., Settanni, M., Rabaglietti, E.(2015). A multicomponent exercise program for older adults living in residential care facilities: Direct and indirect effects on physical functioning. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 23, (3), 409-416. doi: 10.1123/japa.2013-0061

[3] Well-being and Quality of life assessment

Baker, Georgina, Nair, Krishnan Padmakumari Sivaraman, Baster, Kathleen, Rosato, Rosalba, Solari, Alessandra (2018). Reliability and acceptability of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-29 questionnaire in an English-speaking cohort. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1352-4585, doi: 10.1177/1352458518776583

Rosato, Rosalba, Testa, Silvia, Bertolotto, Antonio, Scavelli, Francesco, Giovannetti, Ambra M, Confalonieri, Paolo, Patti, Francesco, Chisari, Clara Grazia, Lugaresi, Alessandra, Pietrolongo, Erika, Grasso, Maria Grazia, Rossi, Ilaria, Toscano, Anna, Loera, Barbara, GIORDANO, ANDREA, Solari, Alessandra (2018). eMSQOL-29: Prospective validation of the abbreviated, electronic version of MSQOL-54. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, p. 1-12, ISSN: 1352-4585, doi: 10.1177/1352458518774935

Guidetti, G., Converso, D., Loera, B., & Viotti, S. (2018). Concerns about change and employee wellbeing: The moderating role of social support. Journal of Workplace Learning, 30(3), 216-228. 

Viotti, S., Guidetti, G., Loera, B., Martini, M., Sottimano, I., & Converso, D. (2017). Stress, work ability, and an aging workforce: A study among women aged 50 and over. International Journal of Stress Management, 24, 98-121.

Rosato R, Testa S, Bertolotto A, Confalonieri P, Patti F, Lugaresi A, Grasso MG, Toscano A, Giordano A, Solari A. (2016). Development of a Short Version of MSQOL-54 Using Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory. PLoS One. Apr 14;11(4):e0153466. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153466. eCollection 2016.

Testa, S., Civilotti, C., Di Fini, G., Rossetto, C., Boncinelli, V., & Veglia, F. (2016). Development of two equivalent short forms of the Psychological General Well-Being Index: PGWBI-A and PGWBI-B. TPM - Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 149-166. doi:10.4473/TPM23.2.2

Rosato Rosalba, Testa Silvia, Oggero Alessandra, Molinengo Giorgia, Bertolotto Antonio (2015). Quality of life and patient preferences: identification of subgroups of multiple sclerosis patients. QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, vol. 24, p. 2173-82-2182, ISSN: 0962-9343, doi: 10.1007/s11136-015-0952-4

Testa, S., Molinengo, G., Oggero, A., Bertolotto, A., Rosato, R. (2015). The relationship between self-efficacy and health-related quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis patients. European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, Vol 3 Issue 3.

 [4] Psychoinformatics

Azucar, D., Marengo, D., & Settanni, M. (2018). Predicting the Big 5 personality traits from digital footprints on social media: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 124, 150-159.

Settanni, M., Azucar, D., & Marengo, D. (2018). Predicting Individual Characteristics from Digital Traces on Social Media: A Meta-Analysis. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 21(4), 217-228.

Marengo, D. Settanni, M. (In press). Mining Facebook data for personality prediction: An overview. In Mobile sensing and Psychoinformatics (Eds., Baumeister, H., Montag, C.), Springer International Publishing.

Settanni, M., Marengo, D. (2015). Sharing feelings online: studying emotional well-being via automated text analysis of Facebook posts. Frontiers in psychology, 6, (1045). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01045

Marengo, D., Azucar, D., Giannotta, F., Basile, V., Settanni M. Exploring the Association between Problem Drinking and Language Use among Young Adult Facebook Users. Submitted to: PLOS One (Under review).

Marengo, D., Azucar, D., Settanni M.  Mining Facebook Data for Quality of Life Assessment. Submitted to:  Behaviour & Information Technology (First revision)