The goal of psychometric development is a measure that can be used, analyzed, and interpreted because it has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Reliability assures that a test is stable, consistent, and precise. Validity is a determination that the measure actually taps into the desired dimensions and is useful for its intended purpose. Reliability is a necessary condition, but it is not sufficient to establish validity. Developing a measure that has known psychometric properties requires many administrations of the proposed items to homogeneous and heterogeneous subjects with rigorous statistical analysis throughout the process.
Attachment refers to the consumer s interest in and enjoyment of clothing.
Knowledge refers to the consumer s competence in interpreting apparel-related information. Effort refers to the time, energy, and involvement apportioned to apparel. Scoring of the inventory will place a consumer in one of 16 types, each representing the predominate mode used when interacting with apparel. The type classification system will be independent of traditional demographic anchors which are less likely nowadays to provide a dependable understanding of consumer behavior. The first stages of psychometric development construct specification and scale development can be considered complete given the research literature on the topic that has accumulated over the last two decades.