Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) is a nonparametric approach that offers exploratory tools for understanding the nature of item responses while emphasizing invariance requirements. MSA is often discussed as it relates to Rasch measurement theory, which also emphasizes invariance, but uses parametric models. Researchers who have compared and combined…

Differential item functioning (DIF) often arises from multiple sources. Within the context of multidimensional item response theory, this study examined DIF items with varying secondary dimensions using the three DIF methods: SIBTEST, Mantel-Haenszel, and logistic regression. The effect of the number of secondary dimensions on DIF detection rates…

Examinations of the internal structure of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) have yielded inconsistent conclusions within and across cultural contexts. This study examined the dimensionality and reliability of the DASS-21 across three theoretically plausible factor structures (i.e., unidimensional, oblique three-factor, and…

In this study, we take a critical look at the degree to which the measurement of bullying and sense of belonging at school is invariant across groups of students defined by immigrant status. Our study focuses on the invariance of these constructs as measured on a recent PISA administration and includes a discussion of two statistical methods for…

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the goal orientation (GO) scale across job search contexts to facilitate its use in large and varied search settings. A sample of 720 job losers and new entrants' job seekers in Ghana completed the survey. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor theoretical…

International surveys are increasingly being used to understand nonacademic outcomes like math and science motivation, and to inform education policy changes within countries. Such instruments assume that the measure works consistently across countries, ethnicities, and languages--that is, they assume measurement invariance. While studies have…

The linguistic complexity of many text-based tests can be a source of construct-irrelevant variance, as test-takers' performance may be affected by factors that are beyond the focus of the assessment itself, such as reading comprehension skills. This experimental study examined the extent to which the use of animated videos, as opposed to written…