Reanalysis of an Allocentric Navigation Strategy Scale based on Item Response Theory

Abstract Focusing on 12 allocentric/survey-based strategy items of the Navigation Strategy Questionnaire (Zhong & Kozhevnikov, 2016), the current study applied item response theory-based analysis to determine whether a bidimensional model could better describe the latent structure of the survey-based strategy. Results from item and model fit diagnostics, categorical response and item information curves showed that an item with the lowest rotated component loading (.27) [SURVEY12], could be considered for exclusion in future studies; and that a bidimensional model with three preference-related items constituting a content factor offered a better representation of the latent structure than a unidimensional model per se. Mean scores from these three items also correlated significantly with a pointing-to-landmarks task to the same relative magnitude as the mean scores from all items, and all items excluding SURVEY12. These findings gave early evidence suggesting that the three preference-related items could constitute a subscale for deriving quick estimates of large-scale allocentric spatial processing in healthy adults in both experimental and clinical settings. Potential cognitive and brain mechanisms were discussed, followed by calls for future studies to gather greater evidence confirming the predictive validity of the full and sub scales, along with the design of new items focusing on environmental familiarity.