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…

In the article, we focused on the issues of measurement error and omitted confounders while conducting mediation analysis under experimental studies. Depending on informativeness of the confounders between the mediator (M) and outcome (Y), we described two approaches. When researchers are confident that primary confounders are included (e.g.,…

We present a bias-adjusted three-step estimation approach for multilevel latent class models (LC) with covariates. The proposed approach involves (1) fitting a single-level measurement model while ignoring the multilevel structure, (2) assigning units to latent classes, and (3) fitting the multilevel model with the covariates while controlling for…

In latent growth curve modeling (LGCM), overall fit indices have garnered increased disputation for model selection, and model fit evaluation based on the mean structure has becoming popularity. The present study developed a versatile fit index, named Weighted Root Mean Squared Errors (WRMSE), based on individual case residuals (ICRs) with the aim…

Cross-loadings are common in multiple-factor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) but often ignored in measurement invariance testing. This study examined the impact of ignoring cross-loadings on the sensitivity of fit measures (CFI, RMSEA, SRMR, SRMRu, AIC, BIC, SaBIC, LRT) to measurement noninvariance. The manipulated design factors included the…

This note demonstrates that measurement invariance does not guarantee meaningful and valid group comparisons in multiple-population settings. The article follows on a recent critical discussion by Robitzsch and Lüdtke, who argued that measurement invariance was not a pre-requisite for such comparisons. Within the framework of common factor…

The use of structural equation models for causal inference from panel data is critiqued in the causal inference literature for unnecessarily relying on a large number of parametric assumptions, and alternative methods originating from the potential outcomes framework have been recommended, such as inverse probability weighting (IPW) estimation of…

Real data are unlikely to be exactly normally distributed. Ignoring non-normality will cause misleading and unreliable parameter estimates, standard error estimates, and model fit statistics. For non-normal data, researchers have proposed a distributionally-weighted least squares (DLS) estimator to combines the normal theory based generalized…

A standard assumption of latent class (LC) analysis is conditional independence, that is the items of the LC are independent of the covariates given the LCs. Several approaches have been proposed for identifying violations of this assumption. The recently proposed likelihood ratio approach is compared to residual statistics (bivariate residuals…

When comparing relations and means of latent variables, it is important to establish measurement invariance (MI). Most methods to assess MI are based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Recently, new methods have been developed based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA); most notably, as extensions of multi-group EFA, researchers introduced…

A necessary step in applying bi-factor models is to evaluate the need for domain factors with a general factor in place. The conventional null hypothesis testing (NHT) was commonly used for such a purpose. However, the conventional NHT meets challenges when the domain loadings are weak or the sample size is insufficient. This article proposes…

A full structural equation model (SEM) typically consists of both a measurement model (describing relationships between latent variables and observed scale items) and a structural model (describing relationships among latent variables). However, often researchers are primarily interested in testing hypotheses related to the structural model while…

The logistic and confined exponential curves are frequently used in studies of growth and learning. These models, which are nonlinear in their parameters, can be estimated using structural equation modeling software. This paper proposes a single combined model, a weighted combination of both models. Mplus, Proc Calis, and lavaan code for the model…

This study examined the false positive (FP) rates and sensitivity of Bayesian fit indices to structural misspecification in Bayesian structural equation modeling. The impact of measurement quality, sample size, model size, the magnitude of misspecified path effect, and the choice or prior on the performance of the fit indices was also…

Intensive longitudinal data has been widely used to examine reciprocal or causal relations between variables. However, these variables may not be temporally aligned. This study examined the consequences and solutions of the problem of temporal misalignment in intensive longitudinal data based on dynamic structural equation models. First the impact…