Psychometric Evaluation of the Cooper–Norcross Inventory of Preferences–Therapist Version

Abstract

The Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) is a commonly used and psychometrically validated measure of client preferences in therapy. However, the C-NIP version for therapists (C-NIP-T) has not yet been validated. This study aimed to develop a Chinese version of the C-NIP-T and test its factor structure, reliability, and concurrent validity. A national sample of 1,054 Chinese mental health professionals completed the C-NIP-T and provided relevant demographic information. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to examine the factor structure of the C-NIP-T. ESEM provided stronger evidence than CFA for the hypothesized four-factor model. Internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s α) of the four subscales ranged between .60 and .76. Full or partial scalar invariance was established across therapists’ therapeutic orientations, gender, personal therapy, and clinical experience. There were significant differences in subscale scores among therapists who identified as cognitive/cognitive-behavioral, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, and humanistic/client-centered, supporting the concurrent validity of the C-NIP-T. The C-NIP-T is a psychometrically sound measure that can be used to assess therapists’ preferences about therapy.