Parallel analysis has been considered one of the most accurate methods for determining the number of factors in factor analysis. One major advantage of parallel analysis over traditional factor retention methods (e.g., Kaiser's rule) is that it addresses the sampling variability of eigenvalues obtained from the identity matrix, representing the…

Oblique bifactor models, where group factors are allowed to correlate with one another, are commonly used. However, the lack of research on the statistical properties of oblique bifactor models renders the statistical validity of empirical findings questionable. Therefore, the present study took the first step to examine the statistical properties…

Measurement invariance (MI) is an essential part of validity evidence concerned with ensuring that tests function similarly across groups, contexts, and time. Most evaluations of MI involve multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA) that assume simple structure. However, recent research has shown that constraining non-target indicators to…

We present a method for Bayesian structural equation modeling of sample correlation matrices as correlation structures. The method transforms the sample correlation matrix to an unbounded vector using the matrix logarithm function. Bayesian inference about the unbounded vector is performed assuming a multivariate-normal likelihood, with a mean…

The large scale expansion of online courses has led to the crisis of course quality issues. In this study, we first established an evaluation index system for online courses using factor analysis, encompassing three key constructs: course resource construction, course implementation, and teaching effectiveness. Subsequently, we employed factor…

Self-regulated learning (SRL) and executive functions (EF) are broad concepts stemming from different research areas. They have been defined and modeled in various ways and are repeatedly related to each other in the literature, but so far, no systematic analyses of these relations have been published. Therefore, a systematic analysis of their…

A frequent criticism of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is that it does not allow correlated residuals to be modelled, while they can be routinely specified in the confirmatory (CFA) model. In this article, we propose an EFA approach in which both the common factor solution and the residual matrix are unrestricted (i.e., the correlated residuals…

Increasing concerns about the trustworthiness of research have prompted calls to scrutinise studies' Individual Participant Data (IPD), but guidance on how to do this was lacking. To address this, we developed the IPD Integrity Tool to screen randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for integrity issues. Development of the tool involved a literature…

Contribution: This article analyzes student assessment within a computing faculty employing a full project-based learning (PBL) approach. Examining 2078 final grades across 60 classes and periods, the study reveals a significant correlation between graded self-studies, exams, and projects. This result contributes to understanding the reliability…

Many university students, including first-year business education students (FYBES) in Ghana, struggle to adjust to academic demands and university life, leading to low engagement and satisfaction with academic experiences. Despite efforts to improve student engagement and satisfaction, the extent to which gender influence this relationship remains…

Accounting for model misspecification in Bayesian structural equation models is an active area of research. We present a uniquely Bayesian approach to misspecification that models the degree of misspecification as a parameter--a parameter akin to the correlation root mean squared residual. The misspecification parameter can be interpreted on its…

English has long been regarded as the universal language. Countries that were earlier reluctant to learn English have also changed their stand due to its global reach. The nonnative English speaker's proficiency largely depends on the College English Teaching (CET) and its evaluation methods. Traditional teaching evaluation models failed to…

Children live complex social lives that has various aspects, including intimate friendships, peer-acceptance and bullying dynamics which is usually studied separately in research. This study aims to investigate the interplays of these three important fields by analyzing the moderating effects of number of friendships on the relation between…

Financial literacy refers to the knowledge required for individuals to make financial decisions. When individuals' subjective assessment of their financial literacy does not align with their actual level of financial knowledge (i.e., the discrepancy between subjective and objective financial literacy), it can result in a range of adverse…

Effect sizes are important because they are an accessible way to indicate the practical importance of observed associations or differences. Standardized mean difference (SMD) effect sizes, such as Cohen's d, are widely used in education and the social sciences -- in part because they are relatively easy to calculate. However, SMD effect sizes…