TABLE 3.
Examples of Items Eliminated at the Winnowing Stage
| Item Stem | Domain | Reason for Removal |
|---|---|---|
| How many visits to mental health specialists have you made in the past 6 months | Depression (treatment) | Inconsistent with the domain definition |
| How much have you gotten fatigued easily | Depression (fatigue) | Semantic redundancy (24 in the bin) |
| I have difficulty sleeping | Depression (sleep problems) | Semantic redundancy (30 in the bin) |
| You are asked to place an “X” through these lines to indicate how you are feeling RIGHT NOW. | Fatigue | Item too narrow |
| Do you feel too much tiredness with normal or soft efforts? | Fatigue | Item confusing |
| Right now … do you feel such fatigue that you don't know what to do with yourself | Fatigue | Item vague |
| My motivation is lower when I am fatigued | Fatigue | Inconsistent with domain definition |