Cognitive Interference During Task Performance: Factorial Structure and Psychometric Properties of a German Version of the Cognitive Interference Questionnaire (CIQ)

The Cognitive Interference Questionnaire (CIQ) is the most frequently used instrument for estimating state cognitive interference. To assess its psychometric properties, the German items were given to 269 students after self-evaluation questionnaire, 206 dysphoric individuals, and 109 students after solving anagrams. Its sensitivity to change was evaluated with 37 students after an interference-prone task. The questionnaire displayed good internal consistency and sensitivity to change. Factorial structure, difficulty, and discriminatory power were dependent on sample and previously conducted tasks as the questionnaire was prone to ground effects. Its factorial structure could be replicated in dysphoric participants and, with certain restrictions, in a sample of students after self-evaluation questionnaires, showing a two factors task-related and task-irrelevant interference. Both scales correlated positively with depression, state orientation, and rumination but not with distraction. After solving anagrams, only the factor task-irrelevant interference was displayed. In samples or test situations where ground effects are less likely, the CIQ appears to be a reliable and valid instrument.