A German Adaptation of the Prosociality Scale

Introduction: This paper presents a German translation of the 16-item Prosociality Scale. We analyzed its factor structure based on theoretical assumptions regarding the inclusion of empathy as one element of prosociality or as its underlying construct. Methods and Results: We translated the items into German taking into account both the English and the Italian item wordings. The scale's factor structure was analyzed with three models testing (1) unidimensionality, (2) a four-factor structure with four items on each factor, and (3) a variant of a bifactor model with a general factor including all items and three residual factors with four items each. We analyzed construct validity using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Finally, we identified two 13-item versions with good model fit. Conclusion: The German Prosociality Scale is not unidimensional. Empathy seems to be the underlying construct of prosociality, but it can also be considered an element of prosociality.

Psychometric Properties of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in Ecuadorian College Students

Objective: To analyse the internal structure of the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), as well as its reliability and validity in relation to other variables in a sample of Ecuadorian university students. Method: Instrumental design with confirmatory factor analysis using weighted least square mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV) estimator, reliability and convergence and discrimination validity of the GHQ-28. Sample: 495 students (56.6% women), between 18 to 35 years old (M = 24.1 years; SD = 2.1), from three universities (59.6% public) in Ecuador. Results: The bifactor model of the GHQ-28 test has an adequate fit with χ2 = 357.81; p > .05; df = 322; χ2/df = 1.11; CFI = .991; TLI = .989; SRMR = .059; RMSEA = .015 [.000 – .023]; ωH = .93; ECV = .90; PUC = .78. The GHQ-28 is reliable and in terms of convergent validity, it correlates significantly and negatively with mental health, assessed by MHC-SF, and it is discriminant between risk and non-risk cases. Conclusion: The GHQ-28 bifactor model is replicable in Ecuadorian college students.

A Motivational-Developmental Free Response Assessment Through a Bifactor Lens

The Motivational-Developmental Assessment (MDA) measures a university student’s motivational and developmental attributes by utilizing overlapping constructs measured across four writing prompts. The MDA’s format may lead to the violation of the local item independence (LII) assumption for unidimensional item response theory (IRT) scoring models, or the uncorrelated errors assumption for scoring models in classical test theory (CTT) due to the measurement of overlapping constructs within a prompt. This assumption violation is known as a testlet effect, which can be viewed as a method effect. The application of a unidimensional IRT or CTT model to score the MDA can result in imprecise parameter estimates when this effect is ignored. To control for this effect in the MDA responses, we first examined the presence of local dependence via a restricted bifactor model and Yen’s Q3 statistic. Second, we applied bifactor models to account for the testlet effect in the responses, as this effect is modeled as an additional latent variable in a factor model. Results support the presence of local dependence in two of the four MDA prompts, and the use of the restricted bifactor model to account for the testlet effect in the responses. Modeling the testlet effect through the restricted bifactor model supports a scoring inference in a validation argument framework. Implications are discussed.

A Construct Revalidation of the Community of Inquiry Survey: Empirical Evidence for a General Factor Under a Bifactor Structure

The study revisited the community of inquiry (CoI) instrument for construct revalidation. To that end, the study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine four competing models (unidimensional, correlated-factor, second-order factor, and bifactor models) on model fit statistics computed using parameter estimates from a statistical estimator for ordinal categorical data. The CFA identified as the optimal structure the bifactor model where all items loaded on their intended domains and the existence of the general factor was supported, essentially evidence of construct validity for the instrument. The study further examined the bifactor model using mostly model-based reliability measures. The findings confirmed the contributions of the general factor to the reliability of instrument scores. The study concluded with validity and reliability evidence for the bifactor model, supported the model as a valid and reliable representation of the CoI instrument and a fuller representation of the CoI theoretical framework, and recommended its use in CoI-related research and practice in online education.

18-Item Version of the Short Gambling Harm Screen (SGHS-18): Validation of Screen for Assessing Gambling-Related Harm among Finnish Population

Background and aims: It is common for gambling research to focus on problem and disordered gambling. Less is known about the prevalence of gambling-related harms among people in the general population. This study aimed to develop and validate the 18-item version of the Short Gambling Harms Screen (SGHS-18). Methods: Population-representative web-based and postal surveys were conducted in the three geographical areas of Finland (n = 7186, aged 18 or older). Reliability and internal structure of SGHS-18 was assessed using coefficient omega and via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Four measurement models of SGHS-18 were compared: one-factor, six-factor, a second-ordered factor model and a bifactor model (M4). Results: The analysis revealed that only the bifactor model had adequate fit for SGHS-18 (CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.930, GFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.027). The general factor explained most of the common variance compared to specific factors. Coefficient omega hierarchical value for global gambling harm factor (0.80) was high, which suggested that SGHS-18 assessed the combination of general harm constructs sufficiently. The correlation with the Problem and Pathological Gambling Measures (PPGM) was 0.44, potentially reflecting that gambling harms are closely—although not perfectly—aligned with the mental health issue of problem gambling. SGHS-18 scores were substantially higher for participants who gambled more often, who spent more money or who had gambling problems, demonstrating convergent validity for the screen. Discussion: The SGHS-18 comprehensively measures the domains of gambling harm, while demonstrating desirable properties of internal consistency, and criterion and convergent validity.

Measurement Invariance of Perfectionism Measures in Students with and without a History of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic process which may be implicated in the onset and maintenance of non-suicidal self-injury. No study has evaluated whether reported differences in perfectionism between individuals with and without a history of self-injury represent genuine group differences or measurement artefacts. The present study reports an investigation of the measurement invariance of two common scales of perfectionism, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-Brief (FMPS-Brief) and the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ), among university students (Mage = 20.48, SDage = 2.22, 75.3% female, 22.8% male) with and without a history of self-injury (total n = 711). Results revealed full residual error invariance for the two-factor model of FMPS-Brief, while the bifactor model of the FMPS-Brief and the two-factor model of the CPQ demonstrated partial metric invariance. Accounting for partial metric invariance, the bifactor model of the FMPS-Brief also demonstrated partial residual error invariance. The current findings suggest that observed differences using the FMPS-Brief reflect genuine differences in perfectionism between individuals with and without a history of self-injury. Further, while researchers using the bi-factor model can have confidence that the general factor can adequately assess group differences, differential item functioning should be considered if using the strivings and concerns factors. Finally, in the current data, the CPQ did not perform as expected in baseline model fit and future research should replicate assessments of measurement invariance in this measure.

Viability of a MSQOL-54 general health-related quality of life score using bifactor model

Background MSQOL-54 is a multidimensional, widely-used, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument specific for multiple sclerosis (MS). Findings from the validation study suggested that the two MSQOL-54 composite scores are correlated. Given this correlation, it could be assumed that a unique total score of HRQOL may be calculated, with the advantage to provide key stakeholders with a single overall HRQOL score. We aimed to assess how well the bifactor model could account for the MSQOL-54 structure, in order to verify whether a total HRQOL score can be calculated. Methods A large international database (3669 MS patients) was used. By means of confirmatory factor analysis, we estimated a bifactor model in which every item loads onto both a general factor and a group factor. Fit of the bifactor model was compared to that of single and two second-order factor models by means of Akaike information and Bayesian information criteria reduction. Reliability of the total and subscale scores was evaluated with Mc Donald’s coefficients (omega, and omega hierarchical). Results The bifactor model outperformed the two second-order factor models in all the statistics. All items loaded satisfactorily (≥ 0.40) on the general HRQOL factor, except the sexual function items. Omega coefficients for total score were very satisfactory (0.98 and 0.87). Omega hierarchical for subscales ranged between 0.22 to 0.57, except for the sexual function (0.70). Conclusions The bifactor model is particularly useful when it is intended to acknowledge multidimensionality and at the same time take account of a single general construct, as the HRQOL related to MS. The total raw score can be used as an estimate of the general HRQOL latent score.

Screening Broad Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents: Bifactor Modeling of the YIEPS

Internalizing and externalizing problems are common targets for school mental health screening. The Youth Internalizing Problems Screener (YIPS) and the Youth Externalizing Problems Screener (YEPS) were developed separately yet intended as companion self-report screeners. Prior research supports the interpretation of total scores derived from both measures. We extended previous work by investigating the defensibility of a series of integrated measurement models that combined items from the YIPS and YEPS into a single, unified screener (YIEPS). Specifically, we evaluated the viability of (1) a unidimensional measurement model with one factor representing global mental health problems, (2) a correlated-factors model with two latent variables representing internalizing and externalizing problems, and (3) a bifactor model with two specific factors (i.e., internalizing and externalizing) and a general factor representing global mental health problems. Following, we tested the reliabilities of the several factors represented in these models as well as the informational value-added of these competing models. Results indicated that a bifactor YIEPS measurement model had the best data-model fit when integrating the two screeners. However, exploratory analyses suggested a revised alternative bifactor model with three specific factors—parsing attention problems from other externalizing and internalizing content—might be a better bifactor model than the original. Ultimately, we recommend the integrated YIEPS is best understood as measuring three specific factors and one general factor. Reliability findings further suggest the general factor (i.e., global Mental Health Problems) is the most defensible. Future directions for research and practice are discussed.