Article

Aim To assess whether the Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes towards Children with
Handicaps (CATCH) 36-item total scale and subscales fit the unidimensional Rasch
model. Method The CATCH was administered to 1881 children, aged 7-16 years in a
cross-sectional survey. Data were used from a random sample of 416 for the
initial Rasch analysis. The analysis was performed on the 36-item scale and then
separately for each subscale. The analysis explored fit to the Rasch model in
terms of overall scale fit, individual item fit, item response categories, and
unidimensionality. Item bias for gender and school level was also assessed.
Revised scales were then tested on an independent second random sample of 415
children. Results Analyses indicated that the 36-item overall scale was not
unidimensional and did not fit the Rasch model. Two scales of affective attitudes
and behavioural intention were retained after four items were removed from each
due to misfit to the Rasch model. Additionally, the scaling was improved when the
two most negative response categories were aggregated. There was no item bias by
gender or school level on the revised scales. Items assessing cognitive attitudes
did not fit the Rasch model and had low internal consistency as a scale.
Conclusion Affective attitudes and behavioural intention CATCH sub-scales should
be treated separately. Caution should be exercised when using the cognitive
subscale. Implications for Rehabilitation The 36-item Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes
towards Children with Handicaps (CATCH) scale as a whole did not fit the Rasch
model; thus indicating a multi-dimensional scale. Researchers should use two
revised eight-item subscales of affective attitudes and behavioural intentions
when exploring interventions aiming to improve children's attitudes towards
disabled people or factors associated with those attitudes. Researchers should
use the cognitive subscale with caution, as it did not create a unidimensional
and internally consistent scale. Therefore, conclusions drawn from this scale may
not accurately reflect children's attitudes.

Langue : ANGLAIS