abstract: The structural validity of the WJ-III Cognitive was investigated using the GIA-Extended Battery test scores of 529, six-to-thirteen-year-old students referred for a psychoeducational evaluation. The results of an exploratory factor analysis revealed 11 of the 14 tests loaded on their expected factors. For the factors Gc, Gf, Gs, and Gv, both tests associated with the factor loaded highly; for Gsm, Glr, and Ga, only one test associated with each factor loaded highly. Obtained congruence coefficients supported the similarity between the factors Gs, Gf, Gc, Glr, and Gv for the current referred sample and the normative factor structure. Gsm and Ga were not found to be similar. The WJ-III Cognitive structure established in the normative sample was not fully replicated in this referred sample. The Schmid-Leiman orthogonalization procedure identified a higher-order factor structure with a second-order, general ability factor, g, which accounted for approximately 38.4% of common variance and 23.1% of total variance among the seven, first-order factors. However, g accounted for more variance in both associated tests for only the orthogonal first-order factor Gf. In contrast, the Gc and Gs factors accounted for more variance than the general factor for both of their respective tests. The Gsm, Glr, Ga, and Gv factors accounted for more variance than g for one of the two tests associated with each factor. The outcome indicates Gc, Gf, Gs, and Gv were supported and thus are likely factors that can be utilized in assessment while Gsm, Glr, and Gr were not supported by this study. Additionally, results indicate that interpretation of the WJ-III scores should not ignore the global ability factor. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Educational Psychology 2012

In the world of work, psychological instruments are often used for the purposes of selection and development (Van de Vijver & Rothmann, 2004). According to Van der Merwe (1999), psychological tests are commonly used to determine whether employees have the necessary skills for a specific job. However, much controversy still exists about the use of such instruments, particularly in the multicultural South African context, as not all psychometric tests accommodate individuals from different cultures and different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. The objective of this study was to assess the structural validity of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi) developed by Bar-On. The EQi measurement consist of 133 items and was completed by a total of 1 104 participants in the South African insurance sector drawn by means of convenient sampling. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed, from which only nine factor loadings resulted out of an anticipated fifteen. Overall, the factor loadings did not provide a good representation of the Bar-On theoretical model. In addition, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test if the data fitted the Bar-On EQI theoretical model. The results suggest a poor fit and therefore the structural validity of the EQI can be questioned for the respondents from an insurance company. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Human Resource Management / MCom / Unrestricted

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The study’s aim was to obtain evidence of validity of the Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (LSRQ) internal structure and to verify metric invariance compared with a previous research study. The participants were 237 university students from the first three academic semesters of a private university in three Peruvian cities (two in the North of Peru, and one in Lima). The analysis was performed by a semi-confirmatory factor analysis, specifying as comparison matrix: a) the configuration derived from a previous study, and b) the free estimation loadings factors. The results indicate that two dimensions represent the instrument structure satisfactorily; but the metric invariance compared to a previous study was not satisfactory. The re-specification of the model, by removing two items with factorial complexity problems and the free estimation of the items, was successful. These results are discussed so as to the interpretation of their scores and the lack of metric invariance. / El objetivo del estudio fue obtener evidencias de validez de la estructura interna del Cuestionario de Autorregulación del Aprendizaje (Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire; LSRQ) y verificar la invarianza métrica comparada con un estudio previo. Los participantes fueron 237 estudiantes universitarios de los tres primeros ciclos académicos de una universidad privada, procedentes de tres ciudades del Perú (dos del norte y una de Lima). El análisis se realizó mediante un análisis factorial semiconfirmatorio, especificando como matriz de comparación (a) la configuración derivada de un estudio previo, y (b) la estimación libre de las cargas factoriales. Los resultados indican que dos dimensiones representan satisfactoriamente la estructura del instrumento; pero la invarianza métrica respecto a un estudio previo no fue satisfactoria. La reespecificación del modelo, mediante la eliminación de dos ítems con problemas de complejidad factorial y la estimación libre de los ítems, obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios. Se discuten estos resultados en el marco de la interpretación de sus puntajes y la falta de invarianza métrica.

Some basic but desirable employability skills are antecedents of job performance. The Workplace Skills Survey (WSS) is a 48-item situational judgment test (SJT) used to assess non-technical workplace skills for both entry-level and experienced workers. Unfortunately, the psychometric evidence for use of its scores is far from adequate. The purpose of current study was two-fold: (a) to examine the proposed structure of WSS scores using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and (b) to explore the WSS item functioning and performance using item response theory (IRT). A sample of 1,018 Jamaican unattached youth completed the WSS instrument as part of a longitudinal study on the efficacy of a youth development program in Jamaica. Three CFA models were tested for the construct validity of WSS scores. Parameter estimations of item difficulty, item discrimination, and examinee’s proficiency estimations were obtained with item response theory (IRT) and plotted in item characteristics curves (ICCs) and item information curves (IICs). Results showed that the WSS performed quite well as a whole and provided precise measurement especially for respondents at latent trait levels of -0.5 and +1.5. However, some modifications of some items were recommended. CFA analyses showed supportive evidence of the one-factor construct model, while the six-factor model and higher-order model were not achieved. Several directions for future research are suggested.