This study explored motivation and engagement among North American (the United States and Canada; n = 1,540), U.K. (n = 1,558), Australian (n = 2,283), and Chinese (n = 3,753) secondary school students. Motivation and engagement were assessed via students' responses to the Motivation and Engagement Scale-High School (MES-HS). Confirmatory factor…

Numerous procedures have been suggested for determining the number of factors to retain in factor analysis. However, previous studies have focused on comparing methods using normal data sets. This study had two phases. The first phase explored the Kaiser method, Scree test, Bartlett's chi-square test, Minimum Average Partial (1976&2000),…

The goals of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis are described, and procedural guidelines for each approach are summarized, emphasizing the use of factor analysis in developing and refining clinical measures. Recent examples of the use of factor analysis are reviewed and used to highlight controversies that can emerge. (SLD)

In examining considerations in determining sample sizes for factor analyses, attention was given to the effects of outliers; the standard error of correlations, and their effect on factor structure; sample heterogeneity; and the misuse of rules of thumb for sample sizes. (Author)

Evaluations of social programs based upon quasi-experimental designs are typically plagued by problems of nonequivalence between the experimental and comparison group prior to the experiment. In such settings it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to isolate the effects of the program from the confounding effects associated with the…