scholarly journals Awareness is bliss: How acquiescence affects exploratory factor analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Damiano D'Urso ◽  
Jesper Tijmstra ◽  
Jeroen K. Vermunt ◽  
Kim De Roover

Assessing the measurement model (MM) of self-report scales is crucial to obtain valid measurement of individuals' latent psychological constructs. This entails evaluating the number of measured constructs and determining which construct is measured by which item. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is the most-used method to evaluate these psychometric properties, where the number of measured constructs (i.e., factors) is assessed, and, afterwards, rotational freedom is resolved to interpret these factors. This study assessed the effects of an acquiescence response style (ARS) on EFA for unidimensional and multidimensional (un)balanced scales. Specifically, we evaluated (i) whether ARS is captured as an additional factor, (ii) the effect of different rotation approaches on the recovery of the content and ARS factors, and (iii) the effect of extracting the additional ARS factor on the recovery of factor loadings. ARS was often captured as an additional factor in balanced scales when it was strong. For these scales, ignoring (i.e., not extracting) this additional ARS factor, or rotating to simple structure when extracting it, harmed the recovery of the original MM by introducing bias in loadings and cross-loadings. These issues were avoided by using informed rotation approaches (i.e., target rotation), where (part of) the MM is specified a priori. Not extracting the additional ARS factor did not affect the loading recovery in unbalanced scales. Researchers should consider the potential presence of an additional ARS factor when assessing the psychometric properties of balanced scales, and use informed rotation approaches when suspecting that an additional factor is an ARS factor.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Vaz De Braganca ◽  
R. Nirmala

Abstract Background Professionalism is a key trait connecting the nurse and patient, and Code of Professional Conduct, a professional legitimacy in considering nursing as a profession and an essential tool that facilitates nurse practice. This study aims to develop Nurse Professionalism Scale using the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in India and test the psychometric properties. Methods A sample of 1054 registered nurses working in various work areas at different levels and sectors of health care was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through self-report from registered nurses and multi-source feedback from their supervisors and colleagues. A total of 830 self-reported data sets, 687 supervisor and 747 colleague responses were received. Following data cleaning, complete sets of 644 self-supervisor-colleague responses were used for analysis using exploratory factor analysis in SPSS version 25 and confirmatory factor analysis in AMOS 22. Results Reliability estimate for internal consistency of the 38 item scale was .910 (self report), .951 (supervisor feedback) and .952 (colleague feedback). Exploratory factor analysis using self-reports extracted five factors with 22 items at Eigen values > 1. Items with communalities ≥ .4 and factor loadings ≥ .5 were retained. Five factors explained total cumulative variance extracted at 51 percent and KMO value of .893 indicated sample adequacy. Bartlett Test of Sphericity was significant (χ2 = 3318, df = 231, p < .000). The factors are labelled with reference to the original code and higher factor loading. CFA using supervisors feedback (CMIN/DF = 2.938; GFI = .926, TLI = .927; CFI = .939 and RMSEA = .055) and colleagues feedback (CMIN/DF = 3.165; GFI = .921, TLI = .908; CFI = .923 and RMSEA = .058) yielded acceptable model fit indices confirming the psychometric properties. Conclusions The scale can be used as a tool to evaluate professionalism among nurses across different settings. Multisource feedback from stakeholders can also be considered as an effective method of gathering data on this construct.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0261617
Author(s):  
Nina Fitriana ◽  
Fonny Dameaty Hutagalung ◽  
Zainudin Awang ◽  
Sumaia Mohammed Zaid

The idea of Happiness at Work is drawn from psychology and economic studies. It is often considered as a synonym with ‘wellbeing’ and defined as a state characterized by a high level of life satisfaction, a high level of positive emotions, and less negative emotions. This research aims to validate the Happiness at Work scale in the Indonesian context. In this study, the researchers conducted cross-cultural adaptation for the Happiness at Work scale following systematic procedures to produce the Scale of Happiness at Work in the Indonesian language. Afterward, the researchers evaluated the content validity with the help of professional judgment and measured the Content Validity Index at the item level and the scale level. Further, to examine the psychometric properties of the Happiness at Work scale, the researchers administer the questionnaire to a sample of 105 (35 male and 70 female) lecturers to conduct exploratory factor analysis to formulate the new dimensionality of the Happiness at Work scale. The results of Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated that Happiness at Work in the Indonesian context could be measured using four dimensions. To confirm that the extracted dimensions measure a single construct, the researchers administered the produced version to a sample of 370 (147 male and 223 female). Afterward, researchers conducted confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the validity and reliability of the measurement model. This research found out that the Indonesian version of Happiness at Work measurement is reliable and valid. Thus, this study may contribute to the happiness at work literature of non-western context. In conclusion, the Indonesian-Happiness at Work scale shows robust psychometric properties that can be used for further research.


Author(s):  
Aya Mostafa ◽  
Nashwa Ismail

Introduction: There is no universal scale for assessing waterpipe tobacco (WT) dependence. We examined the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Waterpipe Dependence Scale-11 (LWDS-11) among Egyptian WT smokers. Methods: We administered the LWDS-11 during face-interview questionnaires in two cross-sectional surveys among 1490 current WT smokers recruited via purposive quota sampling. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on half of the sample. Confirmatory factor analysis of the resulting model was done using structural equation modelling on the other half. Scale reliability was examined. We assessed convergent construct validity using regression models to examine the association between the adapted dependence scale and factors conceptually expected to be associated with WT dependence. Results: Exploratory factor analysis of the scale yielded eight items (E8-LWDS) supporting a three-factor structure: physical dependence (three items); psychological dependence (three items); and psychological craving (two items). Cronbach’s α were 0.635 for the total scale and 0.823, 0.654, and 0.785 for the three subscales. E8-LWDS was confirmed to have good model fit (comparative fit index = 0.995; root mean squared error of approximation = 0.027). E8-LWDS was independently associated with daily WT smoking, rural residence, being a skilled worker, non-exclusive WTS, smoking ≥ eight WT hagars/day, and measures of perceived behavioral control (self-reported addiction to WT, perceived ability to quit, and previous quit attempts). Conclusion: E8-LWDS showed adequate psychometric properties among this sample of Egyptian current WT smokers, which makes it appropriate for use by researchers and practitioners. Adding items related to perceived behavioral control might enhance the scale robustness.


Author(s):  
Raúl Juárez-Vela ◽  
Angela Durante ◽  
Rosa Antonio-Oriola ◽  
Vicente Gea-Caballero ◽  
Michał Czapla ◽  
...  

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major and growing public health problem worldwide. Across the world, heart failure is associated with high mortality, high hospitalization rates, and poor quality of life. Self-care is defined as a naturalistic decision-making process involving the choice of behaviors that maintain physiologic stability, the response to symptoms when they occur, and the ability to follow the treatment regimen and control symptoms. One instrument used to measure self-care is the Self Care of Heart Failure Index. Aim: The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Self Care of Heart Failure Index v.6.2 (SCHFI v.6.2). Methodology: Before testing its psychometric properties, the SCHFI v.6.2 was translated and adapted from its original English version into Spanish. Subsequently, we tested the instrument’s psychometric properties on a sample of 203 participants with HF. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical variables, and to describe item responses. We tested the factorial validity of the SCHFI v.6.2 using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed using the our pre-existing models which resulted with poor fit indices. Thus, we performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on each of the SCHFI v.6.2 scales. Conclusion: The Spanish version of the SCHFI v.6.2. has good characteristics of factorial validity and can be used in clinical practice and research to measure self-care in patients with HF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11
Author(s):  
Gökmen Arslan ◽  
Murat Yıldırım ◽  
Silvia Majercakova Albertova

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the preliminary development and validation of the Subjective Academic Wellbeing Measure (SAWM), which is a six-item self-report rating measure intended for use as a screening tool to assess the positive academic functioning of young people within the elementary and high school context. Exploratory factor analysis was performed with Sample 1 (N= 161), indicating that the SAWM was characterized by a unidimensional measurement model and had strong factor loadings. Results from confirmatory factor analysis, which was carried out with Sample 2 (N= 199), confirmed the measurement model by yielding good data-model fit statistics that were characterized by strong latent construct and internal reliability estimates. Further analyses showed that the scale had good convergent validity considering scores from several self-reported scales of student mental health problems and positive school functioning. Further analyses also showed that configural, metric, and scalar measurement invariance were observed across gender groups. These results provide initial evidence suggesting that the SAWM is a reliable and valid measure that can be used to assess the positive academic functioning of students within the school context. Implications are discussed, and some suggestions are provided for future research and practice


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Μαρία Σμυρνάκη

Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση οικογενειακών και σχολικών παραγόντων που σχετίζονται με τα προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς μαθητών δημοτικού σχολείου και των πρακτικών διαχείρισής τους στο πλαίσιο της οικογένειας και του σχολείου στην ημιαστική περιοχή του Γαζίου, του Νομού Ηρακλείου Κρήτης. Ειδικότερα, επρόκειτο για μια μελέτη περίπτωσης που βασίστηκε στη συλλογή εμπειρικών και ποιοτικών δεδομένων. Στο εμπειρικό της μέρος, πραγματοποιήθηκε συγκριτική έρευνα ανάμεσα σε 55 μαθητές με προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς (ερευνητική ομάδα) και σε 55 μαθητές χωρίς προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς (ομάδα ελέγχου), που ανήκαν στις τρεις τελευταίες τάξεις του δημοτικού σχολείου, με τη χορήγηση 7 συνολικά ερωτηματολογίων: 1) Ερωτηματολόγιο TRF για Εκπαιδευτικούς (32 Ερωτήσεις) Παιδιών Ηλικίας 6-18 ετών (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2003), 2) Εργαλείο Ψυχοκοινωνικής Προσαρμογής: Κλίμακα Αυτοαναφοράς για Μαθητές 10-12 ετών (Χατζηχρήστου, Πολυχρόνη, Μπεζεβέγκης, & Μυλωνάς, 2008), 3) Εργαλείο Ψυχοκοινωνικής Προσαρμογής: Κλίμακα Εκπαιδευτικού για Παιδιά 7-12 ετών (Χατζηχρήστου, Πολυχρόνη, Μπεζεβέγκης, & Μυλωνάς, 2008), 4) PARQ/Parental Acceptance-Rejection/Short Form (Rohner, 2004), 5) TARQ/Teacher’s Acceptance-Rejection/Short Form (Rohner, 2004), 6) SFI/Self Report Family Inventory, Version II (Beavers & Hampson, 1990) και 7) Το Ερωτηματολόγιο της Τάξης μου για το Δημοτικό Σχολείο (ΤΕΤ/Βούλγαρης & Ματσαγγούρας, 2004). Το ποιοτικό μέρος περιελάμβανε τη μελέτη 12 συνολικά περιπτώσεων μαθητών με προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς και τη διεξαγωγή ημιδομημένων συνεντεύξεων στους ίδιους τους μαθητές, στους γονείς και στους δασκάλους τους (36 συνολικά συνεντεύξεις), όπου κατά κύριο λόγο διερευνήθηκαν: οι πρακτικές διαχείρισης που υιοθετούνται από τους γονείς και τους δασκάλους απέναντι στα προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς των μαθητών, ο τρόπος που αυτές βιώνονται από τους μαθητές, οι αντιδράσεις που τους προκαλούν και η αποτίμηση της αποτελεσματικότητάς τους κι από τις τρεις πλευρές. Η ανάλυση των εμπειρικών δεδομένων της έρευνας, η οποία βασίστηκε στο Στατιστικό Πακέτο IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20, περιελάμβανε Διμεταβλητές Σχέσεις, Διερευνητική Παραγοντική Ανάλυση/Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Επιβεβαιωτική Παραγοντική Ανάλυση /Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) και Ανάλυση Διαδρομών/Path Analysis, όπου εξετάστηκε η προσαρμογή 9 διαφορετικών Μοντέλων Διαδρομών/Path Models. Οι συνεντεύξεις της ποιοτικής μελέτης αναλύθηκαν με τη μέθοδο της ανάλυσης περιεχομένου. Σύμφωνα με τα βασικότερα ευρήματα του εμπειρικού μέρους: 1) η αυτοαντίληψη του μαθητή διαδραματίζει τον πιο σημαντικό ρόλο στην πρόβλεψη των προβλημάτων συμπεριφοράς στο συγκεκριμένο πληθυσμό μαθητών, συγκρινόμενη τους άλλους παράγοντες ψυχοκοινωνικής του ανάπτυξης (κοινωνική, συναισθηματική και σχολική επάρκεια), 2) η εχθρότητα/επιθετικότητα του πατέρα και της μητέρας προβλέπουν σε σημαντικό βαθμό την παρουσία προβλημάτων συμπεριφοράς στον πληθυσμό αυτό, 3) η στάση αποδοχής/απόρριψης των δύο γονιών συνάδει μεταξύ τους, με τη στάση του πατέρα να επηρεάζει τη στάση της μητέρας στις ήπιες μορφές απόρριψης και τη στάση της μητέρας να επηρεάζει τη στάση του πατέρα στις πιο έντονες μορφές απόρριψης, ενώ η αντίστοιχη στάση του δασκάλου επηρεάζεται από τη στάση του πατέρα, 4) η ζεστασιά/στοργή της μητέρας διαδραματίζει τον πιο σημαντικό ρόλο στην πρόβλεψη των προβλημάτων συμπεριφοράς και της σχολικής επάρκειας των μαθητών αυτών, συγκρινόμενη με τις άλλες διαστάσεις μητρικής και πατρικής αποδοχής/απόρριψης, ενώ τόσο η συνοχή, όσο και η σύγκρουση της οικογένειας προβλέπουν με τον ίδιο τρόπο την υγιή/ικανή οικογενειακή λειτουργία και 5) η αδιαφοροποίητη απόρριψη του δασκάλου προβλέπει στο μεγαλύτερο βαθμό την παρουσία προβλημάτων συμπεριφοράς στο συγκεκριμένο πληθυσμό μελέτης συγκριτικά με τις άλλες διαστάσεις αποδοχής/απόρριψης του δασκάλου, ενώ τόσο η συνεκτικότητα, όσο και η διενεκτικότητα της τάξης προβλέπουν με τον ίδιο τρόπο την ικανοποίηση από τη λειτουργία της τάξης. Ακόμα, βάσει των κυριότερων δεδομένων του ποιοτικού μέρους της έρευνας: 1) υπερισχύουν οι αρνητικές γονικές και εκπαιδευτικές πρακτικές αντιμετώπισης της προβληματικής συμπεριφοράς των μαθητών (π.χ. ανέβασμα του τόνου της φωνής, τιμωρίες, φυσική/σωματική επιθετικότητα), σύμφωνα με τις αναφορές των ίδιων των μαθητών, 2) οι πρακτικές των γονιών κι ειδικά της μητέρας βιώνονται από τους μαθητές ως πιο σκληρές από εκείνες των δασκάλων τους και συνήθως συνδέονται με τη μη συμμόρφωσή τους, σε αντιδιαστολή με εκείνες του δασκάλου, στις οποίες οι μαθητές συμμορφώνονται, 3) οι αρνητικές γονικές πρακτικές προκαλούν συναισθήματα στενοχώριας, φόβου και θυμού στους μαθητές, 4) οι αποτελεσματικές γονικές και εκπαιδευτικές πρακτικές ομόφωνα συνδέονται, κατά την αντίληψη των τριών πλευρών, με θετικούς κυρίως τρόπους προσέγγισης των μαθητών (π.χ. συζήτηση, ενθάρρυνση, χιούμορ), ενώ οι αναποτελεσματικές πρακτικές με αποκλειστικά αρνητικούς τρόπους προσέγγισής τους (π.χ. ανέβασμα του τόνου της φωνής, τιμωρία, επίπληξη) και 5) οι μαθητές ζητούν από τους γονείς και τους δασκάλους τους να σταματήσουν τις αρνητικές πρακτικές και να αυξήσουν τις θετικές πρακτικές που εφαρμόζουν. Πρόκειται για δεδομένα που συμβάλλουν σημαντικά στη βαθύτερη κατανόηση του συγκεκριμένου πληθυσμού μελέτης, η οποία συνιστά αναγκαία προϋπόθεση και συνθήκη για το σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση εστιασμένων/αποτελεσματικών προληπτικών προγραμμάτων και παρεμβάσεων σχετικά με την προβληματική/αντικοινωνική (επιθετική και παραβατική) συμπεριφορά των προ-εφήβων μαθητών.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denisse Lizette Valdivieso Portilla ◽  
Angélica Gonzalez Rosero ◽  
Geovanny Alvarado-Villa ◽  
Jorge Moncayo-Rizzo

In recent years, a new factor for work stress has been studied along with stress as an offense to self-theory. Illegitimate tasks refer to assignments that are unnecessary or are not related to the employee’s role. Because of this, the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale was developed, which measures illegitimate tasks in terms of unreasonable tasks and unnecessary tasks. There are no studies in Latin America on illegitimate tasks, so the purpose of this research is to translate and validate the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale. The study was performed with a sample of nursing staff from a hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Written informed consent was obtained from each of the participants. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated and its structural validity was verified by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency of the whole scale, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.857. Moreover, the unnecessary and unreasonable subscales measure were 0.846 and 0.841, respectively. The exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor model that explained 73.96% of the variance. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis showed good indexes of fit (GFI = 0.915, CFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.933, SRMR = 0.084, and RMSEA = 0.087). The Spanish version of the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale presents good psychometric properties and can be applied to nurses in the Ecuadorian population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1251-1251
Author(s):  
Anthony J Longoria ◽  
Ben K Mokhtari ◽  
Tawny Meredith-Duliba ◽  
Mary A Hershberger ◽  
Patricia Champagne ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Self-report scales are commonly used to evaluate non-specific symptoms following concussion. While several scales have been developed, few were created using a systematic process and most contain several ambiguous items that may be misinterpreted. To address this, a new theoretically-based, multidimensional measure was designed to assess Cognitive, Neuropsychiatric, and Somatic symptoms associated with concussion. This study used sophisticated psychometric techniques to develop the Texas Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (TPSI) and establish initial reliability and validity. Method Because concussion symptoms are non-specific, a pool of 76 potential items was developed and administered to a diverse clinical sample (N = 350) that included patients with concussion, epilepsy, and dementia. Polychoric correlations were utilized to remove items based on poor fit/multicollinearity and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with an Oblimin rotation was used to determine factor structure. Results A three-factor model best fit the data, and represented Cognitive, Neuropsychiatric, and Somatic domains as designed. Ten items were discarded, resulting in a total of 66 items. The model explained 48.5% of the total variance and contained adequate sampling (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure =0.92) and sufficient item correlations (Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity, p &lt; 0.05) for EFA. All three factor structures displayed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α &gt; 0.88). Conclusions The TPSI is a brief, multidimensional measure with evidence of strong internal consistency and reliability as well as distinct Cognitive, Neuropsychiatric, and Somatic symptoms associated with concussion. Future research will investigate its convergent and divergent validity in concussion as compared to existing popular symptom measures.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn S. Huffman ◽  
Kristen Swanson ◽  
Mary R. Lynn

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine a factor structure for the Impact of Miscarriage Scale (IMS). The 24 items comprising the IMS were originally derived from a phenomenological study of miscarriage in women. Initial psychometric properties were established based on a sample of 188 women (Swanson, 1999a). Method: Data from 341 couples were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results: CFA did not confirm the original structure. EFA explained 57% of the variance through an 18-item, 4-factor structure: isolation and guilt, loss of baby, devastating event, and adjustment. Except for the Adjustment subscale, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were ≥.78. Conclusion: Although a 3-factor solution is most defensible, with further refinement and additional items, the 4th factor (adjustment) may warrant retention.


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