Accounting for measurement error in human life history trade-offs using structural equation modeling

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. e23075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuli Helle
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Measurement Error ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Trade Offs

scholarly journals Trade-offs among transport, support, and storage in xylem from shrubs in a semiarid chaparral environment tested with structural equation modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (33) ◽  
pp. e2104336118
Author(s):  
R. B. Pratt ◽  
A. L. Jacobsen ◽  
M. I. Percolla ◽  
M. E. De Guzman ◽  
C. A. Traugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Xylem Structure ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Embolism Resistance

The xylem in plants is specialized to transport water, mechanically support the plant body, and store water and carbohydrates. Balancing these functions leads to trade-offs that are linked to xylem structure. We proposed a multivariate hypothesis regarding the main xylem functions and tested it using structural equation modeling. We sampled 29 native shrub species from field sites in semiarid Southern California. We quantified xylem water transport (embolism resistance and transport efficiency), mechanical strength, storage of water (capacitance) and starch, minimum hydrostatic pressures (Pmin), and proportions of fibers, vessels, and parenchyma, which were treated as a latent variable representing “cellular trade-offs.” We found that xylem functions (transport, mechanical support, water storage, and starch storage) were independent, a result driven by Pmin. Pmin was strongly and directly or indirectly associated with all xylem functions as a hub trait. More negative Pmin was associated with increased embolism resistance and tissue strength and reduced capacitance and starch storage. We found strong support for a trade-off between embolism resistance and transport efficiency. Tissue strength was not directly associated with embolism resistance or transport efficiency, and any associations were indirect involving Pmin. With Pmin removed from the model, cellular trade-offs were central and related to all other traits. We conclude that xylem traits are broadly governed by functional trade-offs and that the Pmin experienced by plants in the field exerts a strong influence over these relationships. Angiosperm xylem contains different cell types that contribute to different functions and that underpin trade-offs.

scholarly journals Neither measurement error nor speed-accuracy trade-offs explain the difficulty of establishing attentional control as a psychometric construct: Evidence from a latent-variable analysis using diffusion modeling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alodie Rey-Mermet ◽  
Henrik Singmann ◽  
Klaus Oberauer
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Diffusion Modeling ◽  
Latent Variable Analysis ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Speed Accuracy

Attentional control refers to the ability to maintain and implement a goal and goal-relevant information when facing distraction. So far, previous research has failed to substantiate strong evidence for a psychometric construct of attentional control. This has been argued to result from two methodological shortcomings: (a) the neglect of individual differences in speed-accuracy trade-offs when only speed or accuracy is used as dependent variable, and (b) the difficulty of isolating attentional control from measurement error. To overcome both issues, we combined hierarchical-Bayesian Wiener diffusion modeling with structural equation modeling. We re-analyzed the dataset from Rey-Mermet, Gade, and Oberauer (2018), which includes data from a large set of attentional-control tasks from young and older adults. Even when accounting for speed-accuracy trade-offs and removing measurement error, measures of attentional control failed to correlate with each other and to load on a latent variable. These results emphasize the necessity of rethinking attentional control.

scholarly journals On the Psychometric Study of Human Life History Strategies

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 147470491666684 ◽  
Author(s):  
George B. Richardson ◽  
Blair K. Sanning ◽  
Mark H. C. Lai ◽  
Lee T. Copping ◽  
Patrick H. Hardesty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Psychometric Study ◽  
Mating Competition ◽  
Solid Ground

This article attends to recent discussions of validity in psychometric research on human life history strategy (LHS), provides a constructive critique of the extant literature, and describes strategies for improving construct validity. To place the psychometric study of human LHS on more solid ground, our review indicates that researchers should (a) use approaches to psychometric modeling that are consistent with their philosophies of measurement, (b) confirm the dimensionality of life history indicators, and (c) establish measurement invariance for at least a subset of indicators. Because we see confirming the dimensionality of life history indicators as the next step toward placing the psychometrics of human LHS on more solid ground, we use nationally representative data and structural equation modeling to test the structure of middle adult life history indicators. We found statistically independent mating competition and Super-K dimensions and the effects of parental harshness and childhood unpredictability on Super-K were consistent with past research. However, childhood socioeconomic status had a moderate positive effect on mating competition and no effect on Super-K, while unpredictability did not predict mating competition. We conclude that human LHS is more complex than previously suggested—there does not seem to be a single dimension of human LHS among Western adults and the effects of environmental components seem to vary between mating competition and Super-K.

Testing the Assumption of Uncorrelated Errors for Short Scales by Means of Structural Equation Modeling

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Beauducel ◽  
Anja Leue
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Error Score ◽  
Classical Test Theory ◽  
Test Theory ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ◽  
Personality Questionnaire ◽  
True Score

It is shown that a minimal assumption should be added to the assumptions of Classical Test Theory (CTT) in order to have positive inter-item correlations, which are regarded as a basis for the aggregation of items. Moreover, it is shown that the assumption of zero correlations between the error score estimates is substantially violated in the population of individuals when the number of items is small. Instead, a negative correlation between error score estimates occurs. The reason for the negative correlation is that the error score estimates for different items of a scale are based on insufficient true score estimates when the number of items is small. A test of the assumption of uncorrelated error score estimates by means of structural equation modeling (SEM) is proposed that takes this effect into account. The SEM-based procedure is demonstrated by means of empirical examples based on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised.

The Measurement Invariance of the Short Dark Triad

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-218
Author(s):  
Mihaela Grigoraș ◽  
Andreea Butucescu ◽  
Amalia Miulescu ◽  
Cristian Opariuc-Dan ◽  
Dragoș Iliescu
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Item Response ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Scale Level ◽  
High Stake ◽  
Differential Functioning ◽  
Item Functioning

Abstract. Given the fact that most of the dark personality measures are developed based on data collected in low-stake settings, the present study addresses the appropriateness of their use in high-stake contexts. Specifically, we examined item- and scale-level differential functioning of the Short Dark Triad (SD3; Paulhus & Jones, 2011 ) measure across testing contexts. The Short Dark Triad was administered to applicant ( N = 457) and non-applicant ( N = 592) samples. Item- and scale-level invariances were tested using an Item Response Theory (IRT)-based approach and a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach, respectively. Results show that more than half of the SD3 items were flagged for Differential Item Functioning (DIF), and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) results supported configural, but not metric invariance. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Childhood Intelligence Predicts Adult Trait Openness

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham ◽  
Helen Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Data Set ◽  
National Child Development Study ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk

Abstract. This study used a longitudinal data set of 5,672 adults followed for 50 years to determine the factors that influence adult trait Openness-to-Experience. In a large, nationally representative sample in the UK (the National Child Development Study), data were collected at birth, in childhood (age 11), adolescence (age 16), and adulthood (ages 33, 42, and 50) to examine the effects of family social background, childhood intelligence, school motivation during adolescence, education, and occupation on the personality trait Openness assessed at age 50 years. Structural equation modeling showed that parental social status, childhood intelligence, school motivation, education, and occupation all had modest, but direct, effects on trait Openness, among which childhood intelligence was the strongest predictor. Gender was not significantly associated with trait Openness. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.

Celebrity Worship Among University Students in Malaysia

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic ◽  
Khairul Mastor ◽  
Fatin Hazwani Siran ◽  
Mohammad Mohsein Mohammad Said ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The West ◽  
Factor Solution ◽  
Movie Stars ◽  
Three Factor

The present study examined conceptual issues surrounding celebrity worship in a Malay-speaking population. In total, 512 Malay and 269 Chinese participants from Malaysia indicated who their favorite celebrity was and completed the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS) as well as a range of demographic items. Results showed that the majority of Malay and Chinese participants selected pop stars and movie stars as their favourite celebrities, mirroring findings in Western settings. In addition, exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution of the CAS that was consistent with previous studies conducted in the West. Structural equation modeling further revealed that participant’s age was negatively associated with celebrity worship and that self-rated attractiveness was positively associated with celebrity worship. Overall, the present results suggest that celebrity worship in Malaysia may be driven by market and media forces, and future research may well be guided by use of the CAS.

Further Insights Into the German Version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Reis
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Interoceptive Awareness ◽  
Multidimensional Assessment ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Approximate Zero ◽  
Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract. Interoception is defined as an iterative process that refers to receiving, accessing, appraising, and responding to body sensations. Recently, following an extensive process of development, Mehling and colleagues (2012) proposed a new instrument, the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), which captures these different aspects of interoception with eight subscales. The aim of this study was to reexamine the dimensionality of the MAIA by applying maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis (ML-CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM). ML-CFA, ESEM, and BSEM were examined in a sample of 320 German adults. ML-CFA showed a poor fit to the data. ESEM yielded a better fit and contained numerous significant cross-loadings, of which one was substantial (≥ .30). The BSEM model with approximate zero informative priors yielded an excellent fit and confirmed the substantial cross-loading found in ESEM. The study demonstrates that ESEM and BSEM are flexible techniques that can be used to improve our understanding of multidimensional constructs. In addition, BSEM can be seen as less exploratory than ESEM and it might also be used to overcome potential limitations of ESEM with regard to more complex models relative to the sample size.

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