Numerous studies have indicated racial and ethnic disparities in the vocational
rehabilitation (VR) system, including differences in eligibility, services provided, and
employment outcomes. Few of these studies, however, have utilized advanced
multivariate techniques or latent constructs to measure quality of employment outcomes
(QEO) or tested hypothesized models for the relationship between race, personal history
characteristics, and VR outcomes. Furthermore, few VR disparities studies have
examined southwestern states such as Texas, which has large Hispanic and Black
populations.
The purpose of this study was to utilize structural equation modeling (SEM) to
examine several implied conceptual models for the relationship between race, personal
history characteristics, and VR outcomes for White, Black, and Hispanic participants in
the Texas VR system. The implied conceptual models were tested for goodness of fit
and multiple-group invariance. A measurement model for QEO, a latent construct, was
tested and used in the study. QEO was measured by three indicator variables and evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. A MIMIC model was tested to assess
racial/ethnic variation in QEO. The MIMIC results were compared to a multiple
regression approach. In addition, a path model and logistic regressions were conducted
to assess racial variation in VR closure status among consumers who were unemployed
at application to VR. All models were retested with an independent sample to assess
predictive validity.
The study results indicated good model fit and measurement invariance for the
QEO construct. The structural model for race, personal history characteristics, and QEO
indicated moderate model fit. It also indicated interaction effects for race by gender and
for race by public support. The MIMIC model results suggest that QEO decreased for
Blacks and Hispanics compared to Whites. Furthermore, the MIMIC results, which
utilized QEO as an endogenous variable, differed from the multiple regression findings,
which utilized one criterion. The multiple regression findings indicated no statistically
significant difference between Blacks and Whites. The path model for race and VR
closure status indicated poor model fit. The logistic regression indicated no racial/ethnic
differences in VR closure status. Several model estimates did not cross-validate. Study
limitations and suggestions for future research are described. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/6569 |
| Date | 19 October 2009 |
| Creators | Martin, Frank H. |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | electronic |
| Rights | Copyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works. |
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