Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory for Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility with African American College Students

H susceptibility is a measured by how easily a person can be hypnotized (2). There are several types of scales used; among all of them, the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS) (3,4,5) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scales (SHSS) (4,5) are the most common (6). Both of the Standard scales and Harvard scales are connected to the traditional perspective of hypnosis. The biggest difference between SHSS and HGSHS is the way they are administered, SHSS is administered to individuals while HGSHS is administered predominantly to large groups of people (6). Also, because the SHSS is administered individually, it is more accurate than group measures (6). The Stanford Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (SHSS) Forms A, B, and C (4,5) are the benchmarks for other susceptibility scales (6). Among these three forms, the Stanford Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility Form C (SHSS:C) has Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory for Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility with African American College Students