Developing a context-based performance measure for persons with schizophrenia: The test of grocery shopping skills

Objective. This article describes hen, authenticity and directness, desired characteristics of performance measures, were applied to the development o f a context-based Test of Grocery Shopping Skills (TOGSS) for persons with schizophrenia. Method. The steps used in developing the measure included interviewing cons umers with schizophrenia to identify issues in grocery shopping, conceptual izing how authenticity and directness could be applied to shopping performa nce, and selecting grocery items to be used in the test. The two forms of t he TOGSS were administered to 26 persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffect ive disorders to evaluate reliability (stability, equivalence, interrater) and validity (convergent, generalizability) of the TOGSS. Results. The correlations between the two forms of the TOGSS over two diffe rent testing periods were significant, ranging from .64 to .83. Subscale sc ores were moderately correlated (R = .52. to .94) with a similarly construc ted test of drugstore shopping. Conclusion. A systematic method can be used to develop a context measure of performance. The TOGSS has beginning evidence of reliability and validity. study, the test will be useful in assessing the independent living skill o f grocery shopping in persons with psychiatric disorders.