A Review of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills under Rasch Modeling for Unidimensionality Based on Difficulty

Abstract Objectives This work presents a restructuring of the conceptualization on mindfulness. It aims to reassess the theory behind the multifactorial construction of The Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills to form a linear unidimensional construct based on difficulty rather than independent subgroups. Methods A random sample of two hundred applications of the KIMS inventory were retrieved online. The tests were then analyzed by the new light of Krathwohl’s Taxonomy of affective domains on the theoretical side and Rasch methodology on the practical side using the software Linacre, J.M. (2019). Winsteps® (Version 4.4.6). Results Most items fall within acceptable parameters of item fit statistics for Rasch modeling appropriateness of MNSQ from 0.7 to 1.3 and ZSTD from -2 to +2. Recoding the five Likert type answer labels to three possibilities would serve to fix several issues. First, a clear representation for each distinct position within the underlying variable seen by the Andrich threshold changing at least by one logit. Secondly, meeting the minimum required observations of ten in each category. The Wright map shows there is an inkling of progression worked into the instrument. The theoretical progression of skills for mindfulness is parallel to the difficulty of items from the test. Conclusions There is evidence of reconsideration for items. The Wright map shows several items that should be exclusively in the third difficulty grouping have a broad range of difficulty. With fewer items the distribution along difficulty for the third and fourth factor would increase in differentiation.