Metaheuristics are optimization algorithms that efficiently solve a variety of complex combinatorial problems. In psychological research, metaheuristics have been applied in short-scale construction and model specification search. In the present study, we propose a bee swarm optimization (BSO) algorithm to explore the structure underlying a…

We review common situations in Bayesian latent variable models where the prior distribution that a researcher specifies differs from the prior distribution used during estimation. These situations can arise from the positive definite requirement on correlation matrices, from sign indeterminacy of factor loadings, and from order constraints on…

The Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) measures a wide range of personality traits associated with affect and temperament. However, the lengthy administration time may have hindered its widespread use in personality research. The National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) has adapted a short version of the…

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a widely used technique for studies involving latent constructs. While covariance-based SEM (CB-SEM) permits estimating the regression relationship among latent constructs, the parameters governing this relationship do not apply to that among the scored values of the constructs, which are needed for…

Scale validation is vital to psychological research because it ensures that scores from measurement scales represent the intended construct. Factor analysis fit indices are commonly used to provide quantitative evidence that a proposed factor structure is plausible. However, there is mismatch between guidelines for evaluating fit of factor models…

Measurement invariance (MI) is required for validly comparing latent constructs measured by multiple ordinal self-report items. Non-invariances may occur when disregarding (group differences in) an acquiescence response style (ARS; an agreeing tendency regardless of item content). If non-invariance results solely from neglecting ARS, one should…

In a recent publication in the Journal of Intelligence, Dennis McFarland mischaracterized previous research using latent variable and psychometric network modeling to investigate the structure of intelligence. Misconceptions presented by McFarland are identified and discussed. We reiterate and clarify the goal of our previous research on network…

This study is aimed at validating the French version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire for Teachers. The instrument was pretested before being administered in a large-scale study with elementary school teachers. Dimensionality of the instrument was examined using the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) framework.…

Background: Modelling academic self-concept through second-order factors or bifactor structures is an important issue with substantive and practical implications; besides, the bifactor model has not been analysed with a Chinese sample and cross-cultural studies in the academic self-concept are scarce. Likewise, latent structure validity evidence…

At present, there are no brief, freely-available, informant-report measures that evaluate key challenging behaviors relevant to youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities (DD). This paper describes the development, refinement, and initial psychometric evaluation of a new 18-item measure, the Open-Source…

One of the primary goals of higher education is to enhance students' critical thinking skills as they work to complete their program of study. As such, it is for critical educators and academic program coordinators to have access to assessment tools that can provide accurate estimates of the cognitive and dispositional domains of higher-order…

The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) is one of the most widely used instruments to measure students' motivation and self-regulated learning. However, the MSLQ was developed and has been predominantly used in the Western context, is a domain-general measure, and is quite lengthy. Hence, adapting the MSLQ to the Chinese…

Structural equation models comprise a large class of popular statistical models, including factor analysis models, certain mixed models, and extensions thereof. Model estimation is complicated by the fact that we typically have multiple interdependent response variables and multiple latent variables (which may also be called random effects or…

This research is aimed to validate an instrument, the Malaysian version of ROSE or MROSE to gauge Malaysian secondary students' interests, attitudes, values, and priorities in S&T-related issues. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling approach was used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the instrument. The internal…

One of the best-established findings in intelligence research is the pattern of positive correlations among various intelligence tests. Although this so-called positive manifold became the conceptual foundation of many theoretical accounts of intelligence, the very nature of it has remained unclear. Only recently, "Process Overlap…