Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to develop a short version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE; Watson & Friend, 1969) for Japanese. Item characteristics and measurement accuracy for both the original version and the short version were evaluated within the context of item-response theory (IRT). Graded response model (GRM) was used in the short version to supplement for the information lost due to the decrease in the number of items. The results indicated sufficient measurement accuracy for the 12-item Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, which used a 5-point Likert scale, in comparison to the original Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. Test information function showed that the Short Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale had better measurement accuracy for participants with higher levels of anxiety, suggesting greater efficacy in clinical settings. Psychometric properties and the prospects for application of the Scale in both clinical and research settings were discussed in comparison with the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE; Leary, 1983).
