An investigation of concurrent validity between two optimism/pessimism questionnaires: The Life Orientation Test-Revised and the Optimism/Pessimism Scale

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the concurrent validit y of the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) (Scheier et al., 1994) and O ptimism/Pessimism Scale (OPS) (Dember et al., 1989) by administering each q uestionnaire to the same group of participants. The 154 participants (84 me n and 70 women) were volunteer university Students enrolled in physical act ivity classes at a southeastern university. The questionnaires were counter balanced to reduce possible bias due to taking one questionnaire before tak ing the other. Due to recent suggestions concerning scoring mechanisms for the LOT-R (Dember et al., 1989; Hummer, Dember, Melton & Schefft, 1992; Lig htsey, 1996; Marshall and Lang, 1990) the instrument was scored to produce a unidimensional score and two subscale scores. The analysis suggested that the LOT-R and OPS may not be measuring similar constructs. The results rev ealed that the LOT-R may be measuring "trait" optimism and pessimism, while the OPS may be measuring "state" optimism and pessimism. It was also sugge sted that future research investigate racial differences on these construct s.