Stability in attitudes of university students toward stuttering in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract Background and Purpose: Previous test-retest reliability research on the public opinion survey of human attributes–stuttering (POSHA–S) has generated correlations of about 0.80. The need exists to determine the stability of POSHA–S scores in multiple administrations. A recent study demonstrated that, whereas mean scores were nearly identical from test to retest, when grouped by participants who improved and those who did not, the highest initial scorers changed to the lowest scores in the retest (negative changers). Similarly, those with the lowest test scores changed to the highest retest scores (positive changers). Only those with intermediate scores had similar scores from test to retest (minimal changers). These far exceeded the regression to the mean effect and were thus termed a “crossover” effect. The current study aimed to explore the stability of stuttering attitudes over time. Materials and Methods: Optometry students from India ( n = 36) filled out the POSHA–S four times in succession, with no information provided about stuttering. Results: Although the mean changes from the first to the second administrations were similar, wide variability occurred for summary scores on the POSHA–S from the first to the fourth administrations. An apparent “crossover” effect that appeared between the first and second administrations was nullified because there was virtually no correlation between test and retest. Conclusion: Participants’ ratings were anomalous compared to those in numerous previous test-retest studies. Accordingly, this study should be replicated to isolate the reasons for the apparent lack of stability of stuttering attitudes observed.