Abstract
Measurement is an essential activity in the field of allergy and due to
the subjective nature of the results that are being measured, it is
increasingly necessary to have valid, reproducible, and reliable
methods. There are some reviews or task forces that present different
methods or techniques to develop a validation study, which may cause
some confusion. With this review, we intend to bring together and
synthesize some of the information found, to help researchers and
clinicians to interpret or understand the varied nomenclature read in
the literature. Before any data collection, a translation of the
questionnaire is needed. Psychometry involves the application of
statistical techniques to test the measurement properties of an
instrument. There are several measures to evaluate an instrument, the
main ones being: classical test theory and modern test theory. Regarding
the classical test theory, the key psychometric characteristics are
scale structure, accuracy (validity), precision (reliability) and
responsiveness. Modern test theory models are techniques to assess the
psychometric characteristics of an instrument, focused on the
dimensionality of the questionnaire. Responsiveness, validity, and
precision are interlinked. Following these steps ensures the development
of validated questionnaires that provide valuable insights into allergy
prevalence, impact, and management.