This study examined the Casey Foster Applicant Inventory-Applicant-Co-Parenting Scale (CFAI-CP), a new scale developed to measure foster parent applicants' co-parenting potential. Also, this study illustrates statistical methods used to analyze the psychometric properties of dyadic data. Factor structure and measurement invariance were tested with 111 approved foster couples. Mplus was used to accommodate ordinal-level data. Exploratory factor analysis supported a 10-item, unidimensional measure with excellent internal consistency reliability (.88 fathers,.89 mothers). Confirmatory factor analysis supported scalar measurement invariance but not structural invariance, as expected. Good construct validity was evident. Findings support the CFAI-CP as an empirically sound measure to assess foster parent co-parenting.

With increased data sharing and research collaboration options available through modern technology, there is an increased need to find more advanced techniques to analyze data across multiple studies. A systematic method of pooling participant-level versus study-level data would be particularly valuable as it would allow for more complex statistical analyses, broader assessment of constructs, and a cost effective way to examine new questions and replicate previous findings. One notable difficulty in pooling raw data in the behavioral sciences is the heterogeneity in methodologies and consequent need to establish measurement invariance. The present study explores the feasibility of using Integrative Data Analysis (IDA) to combine 10 heterogeneous eating disorder prevention data sets and establish measurement invariance across the constructs of thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction. Using standard multiple groups factor analysis and likelihood-ratio tests to examine differential item functioning, separate one-factor models were established for the three measures used across studies. Partial measurement invariance was established for all measures. Implications for future IDA studies based on this process are discussed, particularly regarding the clinical impact of measurement invariance.

This present study examined the structural validity of a Chinese version of Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP-C), using a large sample of Chinese parents and their young adult children (N = 1047). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to evaluate the model fit of sample data on three competing models using two randomly split stratified subsamples. Measurement invariance for these two generational respondents was checked using differential item functioning (DIF) analysis. The results indicated that MWEP-C provided a reasonable fit for the sample data and the majority of survey items produced similar item-level responses for individuals that do not differ on the attributes of work ethic across these two generations. DIF items were detected based on advanced and successive iterations. Monte Carlo simulations were also conducted for creating threshold values and for chi-square probabilities based on 1,000 replications. After identifying the DIF items, model fit improved and generational differences and similarities in work ethic between parents and their young adult children were also identified. The results suggested that the younger Chinese generations have higher work ethic mean scores on the dimensions of work centrality and morality/ethics while they have similarities on time concept, self-reliance, delay of gratification, and hard work as their parents.

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There is a paucity of research juxtaposing parental education level and teacher emotional support in a single study which examines their relative impacts on students’ academic achievements. Therefore, the first objective of this dissertation is to study the influence of parental education level, in comparison to the influence of teacher emotional support, on students’ math performance, by using more representative data and a rigorous statistical method. The second objective is to identify and examine how some important psychological traits (both affective and cognitive) mediate the effects of social factors on students’ math performance. The third objective is to examine whether those relationships are moderated by gender. Hong Kong’s survey data is extracted from the Program of International Students Assessment (2003) as organized by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on the math performances of 4,478 students at the age of fifteen. Measurement invariance was first tested, and then followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Two structural models were tested by Structural Equation Modeling using Linear Structural Relations (LISREL) 8.5 which is computer software for SEM. Results indicated that first, parental education level affects children’s math scores by providing home education resources and enhancing children’s math self-efficacy, and second the Self Determination Theory is applicable in supporting the hypothesis that teachers affects their students’ math scores by providing a cooperative learning environment, which in turn, enhances students’ affective and cognitive factors. Three important mediators, namely cooperative learning environment, math self-efficacy, and home education resources are concluded as significant mediating factors upon the effects of parents and teachers on students’ math performance. The perceived support from parents and teachers are not significantly different across gender in Hong Kong. This is consistent with recent studies that differences favoring males in mathematics achievement are disappearing. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed in the final part of the dissertation.

This research outlines a conceptual framework and data analysis process to examine multisource feedback (MSF) rater group differences from a leadership assessment survey, after testing the measures for equivalence. MSF gathers and compares ratings from supervisors, peer, followers and self and is the predominant leadership assessment tool in the United States. The results of MSF determine significant professional outcomes such as leadership development opportunities, promotions and compensation. An underlying belief behind the extensive use of MSF is that each rater group has a different set of implicit leadership theories (ILTs) they use when assessing the leader, and therefore each group is able to contribute unique insight. If this is true, research findings would find rater group consistency in leadership assessment outcomes, but they do not. A review of group comparison research reveals that most empirical MSF studies fail to perform preliminary data exploration, employ consistent models or adequately test for measurement equivalence (ME); yet industry standards strongly suggest exploratory methods whenever data sets undergo changes, and misspecified models cause biased results. Finally, ME testing is critical to ascertain if rater groups have similar conceptualizations of the factors and items in an MSF survey. If conceptual ME is not established, substantive group comparisons cannot be made. This study draws on the extant MSF, ILT and ME literature and analyzes rater group data from a large, application-based MSF leadership database. After exploring the data and running the requisite MI tests, I found that the measures upheld measurement invariance and were suitable for group comparison. Additional MI tests for substantive hypotheses support found that significant mean differences did exist among certain rater groups and dimensions, but only direct report and peer groups were consistently significantly different in all four dimensions (analytical, interpersonal, courageous and leadership effectiveness). Additionally, the interpersonal dimension was the most highly correlated with leadership effectiveness in all five rater groups. The overall findings of this study address the importance of MSF data exploration, offer alternative explanations to the disparate leadership MSF research findings to date and question the application use of MSF tools in their current form.

Aim Satisfaction with life is a measure of protection in older adults. There lies the importance of providing quality instruments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the invariance of the life satisfaction scale (SWLS) in two samples of older adults in Spain and Peru. Method The participants were 857 older adults in Spain (mean age = 68.23 years, SD = 5.93) and 336 older adults in Peru (average age = 72.42, SD = 7.07). All multi-group confirmatory factor analyzes were estimated in Mplus 8.0. Results The results indicate the presence of a strict invariance of the one-dimensional structure of the SWLS in samples of older adults in Spain and Peru, which allows for meaningful comparisons of latent means and covariances. Comparison of latent means showed small differences in the construct between the cultural groups. Conclusions The SWLS is a valid instrument for intercultural comparisons between Spanish and Peruvian population. The measurement invariance assessment contributes to a better understanding of life satisfaction in populations from different cultural contexts. / Objetivo La satisfacción con la vida es una medida de protección en los adultos mayores. Aquí radica la importancia de tener instrumentos de calidad para medirla. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la invarianza de la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (SWLS) en 2 muestras de adultos mayores de España y Perú. Método Los participantes fueron 857 adultos mayores españoles (edad media: 68,23 años y DT: 5,93) y 336 adultos mayores peruanos (edad media: 72,42 años y DT: 7,07). Todos los análisis factoriales multi-muestra se estimaron en Mplus 8.0. Resultados Los resultados indican la presencia de una invarianza estricta de la estructura unifactorial de la SWLS en muestras de adultos mayores de España y Perú, lo que permite realizar comparaciones adecuadas, tanto de medias latentes como de relaciones con otras variables. La comparación de las medias latentes mostró pequeñas diferencias en el constructo entre las 2 culturas. Conclusiones La SWLS es una escala válida para realizar comparaciones transculturales entre poblaciones peruanas y españolas. La evaluación de la invarianza de medida contribuye a entender mejor la satisfacción vital desde contextos culturales diferentes.

<p>The power of positive attitudes toward science is that they influence science achievement by reinforcing higher performance. Interestingly, there continue to be gender disparities in attitudes toward science across many countries. Males generally have more positive attitudes toward science than females. Although most research related to attitudes toward science have been based on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Student Questionnaire, there remains a dearth of evidence validating the TIMSS science attitudes items and measurement equivalence across genders. </p><p>The goals of this research were as follows: (1) to build support for the structural validity of the TIMSS items, and (2) to investigate whether the instrument measures the same latent construct (attitudes toward science) across genders. The present study followed two steps of statistical analyses. As a first step, two modeling methods (confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling) were conducted to identify the best-fitting model for the instrument. Second, after determining the model of choice, we tested several nested invariance models progressively. </p><p>This study found (1) the latent factor structure of the TIMSS items and (2) strong measurement invariance across genders. This result indicated that the instrument is well designed by the <i>a priori</i>specification and measures the same latent variable for both female and male students. This study provides support for the multidimensional approach to measuring science attitudes and shows the flexibility of ESEM over CFA by demonstrating that the ESEM approach provided better representation of the underlying factor structure. </p>

The rates of non-medical prescription drug use in the United States (U.S.) have increased dramatically in the last two decades, leading to a more than 300% increase in deaths from overdose, surpassing motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of injury deaths. In rural areas, deaths from unintentional overdose have increased by more than 250% since 1999 while urban deaths have increased at a fraction of this rate. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that cultural, economic, and environmental factors prevalent in rural America affect the rate of substance use disorder (SUD) in that population, and that diagnosis of these disorders across rural and urban populations may not be generalizable due to these same effects. This study applies measurement invariance analysis and factor analysis techniques: item response theory (IRT), multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC), and latent class analysis (LCA), to the DSM-IV abuse and dependency diagnosis instrument. The sample used for the study was a population of adult past-year illicit drug users living in a rural or urban area drawn from the 2011-2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data files (N = 3,369| analyses 1 and 2; N = 12,140| analysis 3). Results of the IRT and MIMIC analyses indicated no significant variance in DSM item function across rural and urban sub-groups; however, several socio-demographic variables including age, race, income, and gender were associated with bias in the instrument. Latent class structures differed across the sub-groups in quality and number, with the rural sample fitting a 3-class structure and the urban fitting 6-class model. Overall the rural class structure exhibited less diversity and lower prevalence of SUD in multiple drug categories (e.g. cocaine, hallucinogens, and stimulants). This result suggests underlying elements affecting SUD patterns in the two populations. These findings inform the development of surveillance instruments, clinical services, and public health programming tailored to specific communities.

Measurement invariance across time and reporter is rarely reported in the literature for measures of youth disclosure, even though it is often necessary to establish at least strong invariance before proceeding to further analyses such as comparing means across time or reporter. Measurement invariance was examined across time (ages 11, 14, and 17) and across reporter (youth report of disclosure to mother, youth report of disclosure to father, mother report of youth disclosure, father report of youth disclosure) with a sample of 348 youth and their parents. Youth report of disclosure to mothers demonstrated strong invariance across ages 11-14 and 14-17, but strong equivalence was not found for mother report over time across any age. Youth report of disclosure to mothers and fathers demonstrated strong equivalence at ages 11, 14, 17, and across ages 11-14-17. Mother and father reports also demonstrated strong equivalence at ages 11, 14, and 17. The item "I talk with my parent about how I am doing with school work" had lower factor loadings and higher intercepts at age 11 than at other ages for fathers and mothers and compared to youth report. Implications for youth disclosure theory and construct development are discussed.