Simulation results show that the power to detect small mean differences when fitting a model with free residual variances across groups decreases as the difference in R squared increases. This decrease is more pronounced in the presence of correlated errors and if group sample sizes differ. (SLD)

Used simulation to study the effects of the practice of item parceling. Results indicate that certain types of item parceling can obfuscate a multidimensional factor structure in a way that acceptable values of fit indexes are found for a misspecified solution. Discusses why the use of parceling cannot be recommended when items are…

Information fit indexes such as Akaike Information Criterion, Consistent Akaike Information Criterion, Bayesian Information Criterion, and the expected cross validation index can be valuable in assessing the relative fit of structural equation models that differ regarding restrictiveness. In cases in which models without mean restrictions (i.e.,…

A validation study of the Child Sex Abuse Attitude Scale (CSAAS) used confirmatory factor analysis to examine factor structure. Results from a sample of 215 school psychologists supported the hypothesized factor structure of the CSAAS, indicating the plausibility of a four-factor first-order and a single-factor higher order structure for the…

Used nine different confirmatory factor analysis models to test the factorial structure of Rosenberg's (M. Rosenberg, 1965) self-esteem scale with a sample of 430 crack-cocaine users. Results partly support earlier research to show a single global self-esteem factor underlying responses to the Rosenberg scale, method effects associated with item…

Conducted simultaneous group confirmatory factor analyses of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)(R. Hare, 1991) with 740 alcoholic inpatients. Results provide general support for the use of the PCL-R with alcoholic inpatients, although there was substantial intercorrelation for the factors of Personality and Behavioral Features. (SLD)

In recent years, confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) techniques have become the most common method of testing for measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I). However, no study has simulated data with known differences to determine how well these CFA techniques perform. This study utilizes data with a variety of known simulated differences in factor…

This simulation investigates bias in trait factor loadings and intercorrelations when analyzing multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data using the correlated uniqueness (CU) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model. A theoretical weakness of the CU model is the assumption of uncorrelated methods. However, previous simulation studies have shown little…

Chest pain was identified as a specific medical problem space, and disease classes were modeled to define it. Results from a test taken by 628 medical residents indicate a second-order factor structure that suggests that chest pain is a multidimensional problem space. Implications for medical education are discussed. (SLD)

Studied the meaning of Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI; Conroy and others, 2002) by evaluating the comparability of PFAI factor structure over repeated assessments and the stability of the subscales over relatively brief intervals. Results for 356 college students generally show high stability for PFAI scores in long and short forms.…

Used confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the score integrity of LibQUALl+, an instrument to measure perceptions of library service quality. Results for 60,027 graduate and undergraduate students suggest that the model implied by LibQUAL is reasonable and invariant across independent samples and fits all three major subgroups of library users.…

In addition to student learning, positive student attitudes have become an important course outcome for many introductory statistics instructors. To adequately assess changes in mean attitudes across introductory statistics courses, the attitude instruments used should be invariant by administration time. Attitudes toward statistics from 4,910…

Results of a study with 640 Spanish high school students suggest the existence of a global self-esteem factor underlying responses to Rosenberg's (M. Rosenberg, 1965) Self-Esteem Scale, although the inclusion of method effects is needed to achieve a good model fit. Method effects are associated with item wording. (SLD)

Investigated the factorial invariance of scores from a seventh grade state reading assessment across general education students and selected groups of students with disabilities. Assessed the fit of a two-factor model and five levels of constraint. Results generally support the score comparability of the reading assessment, but more research is…

Confirmatory factor analysis of responses from 991 undergraduates showed that a four-factor structure (Affect, Cognitive Competence, Value, and Difficulty) provided the best fit for males and females as the factor structure of the Survey of Attitudes toward Statistics, developed for this study to measure students' attitudes about statistics. (SLD)