Legalization of the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) for Broadbent on a sample of Libyan university students (a factorial study)

Abstract

       Broadbent's et al. (1982) cognitive failure questionnaire (CFQ) is a well-known and widely used measure of cognitive failure. The present study aimed to standardizing this instrument on Arab culture and extracting population norms in Libyan society. The study sample consisted of (436) Tobruk university students aged from (18 – 27) years, with (206) male and (230) female. The results of the factors analysis of the (CFQ) yielded 8 interpretable factors correlated high with each other (p 0.01). These factors were labeled: problem in memory, problems remembering name, general forgetting, lack of concentration, general blunders, social interaction, attentional difficulties, and absent-mindedness. Study was also found a high internal consistency for all scale items ranged from (r= 0.31) to (r=056). In addition, the CFQ was reasonably associated with Taylor anxiety scale (r= 0.65). The scale showed a high reliability using test–retest, Cronbach's Alpha coefficients and split-half (0.82, 0.75, 0.75) respectively. It was also found a high tendency in the level of the cognitive failure among university students. There was difference between male and female in subscale: problems remembering name, general forgetting general blunders, social interaction, however, there was no difference between male and female in subscale: problem in memory lack of concentration attentional difficulties, absent-mindedness, and total (CFQ) scores. Finally, Libyan version of (CFQ) was found reliability and validity and responsive instrument for evaluating cognitive failures in university students