Dealing with Extreme Response Style in Cross-Cultural Research: A Restricted Latent Class Factor Analysis Approach

Prior research has shown that extreme response style can seriously bias responses to survey questions and that this response style may differ across culturally diverse groups. Consequently, cross-cultural differences in extreme responding may yield incomparable responses when not controlled for. To examine how extreme responding affects the cross-cultural comparability of survey responses, we propose and apply a multiple-group latent class approach where groups are compared on basis of the factor loadings, intercepts, and factor means in a Latent Class Factor Model. In this approach a latent factor measuring the response style is explicitly included as an explanation for group differences found in the data. Findings from two empirical applications that examine the cross-cultural comparability of measurements show that group differences in responding import inequivalence in measurements among groups. Controlling for the response style yields more equivalent measurements. This finding emphasizes the importance of correcting for response style in cross-cultural research.

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Extreme Response Style in Cross-Cultural Research

Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology ◽

10.1177/002202217400500407 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 465-480 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Kl-Taek Chun ◽

John B. Campbell ◽

Jong Hae Yoo

Keyword(s):

Cross Cultural ◽

Response Style ◽

Extreme Response Style ◽

Cultural Research ◽

Extreme Response ◽

Cross Cultural Research

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The implications of extreme response style (ERS) for cross-cultural and comparative research

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v18i1.537 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. L. Watkins

Keyword(s):

Science Research ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Response Style ◽

Behavioural Science ◽

Research Results ◽

Extreme Response Style ◽

Cultural Research ◽

Extreme Response ◽

And Gender ◽

Interaction With Age

Cross-cultural research in which fivepoint, Likert-type and semantic-differential scales are utilized, is a popular research practice. Extreme response style (ERS) may contaminate the validity of research results, however this possibility is often ignored in behavioural science research. In this study, the influence of biographical variables on extreme response style and the contaminating effect thereof on the validity of research results is investigated. The results of the study reveal that culture separately, and interaction with age and gender has a meaningful influence on ERS when five-point scales are utilized. The underlying causes of the phenomenon can however not exclusively be ascribed to biographical variables. Opsomming Kruiskulturele navorsing waarin vyfpunt, Likerttipe- en semanties-differensiale skale benut word, is 'n bekende navorsingspraktyk. Ekstreme responsiestyl is egter daartoe in staat om die geldigheid van sondanige navorsingsresultate te kontamineer, maar hierdie moontlikheid word dikwels in die gedragswetenskaplike navorsingspraktyk geignoreer. In hierdie studie word ondersoek ingestel na die invloed van biografiese faktore op ekstreme responsiestyl en die kontaminerende effek daarvan op die geldigheid van navorsingsresultate. Daar is gevind dat kultuur in interaksie met ouderdom en geslag, ERS betekenisvol beinvloed wanneer vyfpuntskale gebruik word. Die onderliggende oorsake van die verskynsel kan egter nie uitsluitlik aan biografiese veranderlikes toegeskryf word nie.

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The Uses and Limitations of Factor Analysis in Cross-Cultural Research on Socialization

International Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1080/00207596708247218 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 215-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Donald R. Peterson ◽

Guiseppe Migliorino

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Research ◽

Cross Cultural Research

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Researching measurement equivalence in cross-cultural studies

Psihologija ◽

10.2298/psi1002121k ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 121-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Milos Kankaras ◽

Guy Moors

Keyword(s):

Latent Class ◽

Measurement Equivalence ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Research ◽

Item Functioning ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Cross Cultural Research ◽

Comparative Advantages ◽

Similarities And Differences ◽

Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis

In cross-cultural comparative studies it is essential to establish equivalent measurement of relevant constructs across cultures. If this equivalence is not confirmed it is difficult if not impossible to make meaningful comparison of results across countries. This work presents concept of measurement equivalence, its relationship with other related concepts, different equivalence levels and causes of inequivalence in cross-cultural research. It also reviews three main approaches to the analysis of measurement equivalence - multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, differential item functioning, and multigroup latent class analysis - with special emphasis on their similarities and differences, as well as comparative advantages.

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Assessing and Testing Cross-Cultural Measurement Equivalence

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190496470.003.0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Thanh V. Tran ◽

Tam Nguyen ◽

Keith Chan

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Comparison ◽

Fundamental Issue ◽

Equivalence Test ◽

Cross Cultural Comparison ◽

Total Correlation ◽

Cultural Research ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Cross Cultural Research

A cross-cultural comparison can be misleading for two reasons: (1) comparison is made using different attributes and (2) comparison is made using different scale units. This chapter illustrates multiple statistical approaches to evaluating the cross-cultural equivalence of the research instruments: data distribution of the items of the research instrument, the patterns of responses of each item, the corrected item–total correlation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability analysis using the parallel test and tau-equivalence test. Equivalence is the fundamental issue in cross-cultural research and evaluation.

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