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Several studies have performed cross-cultural comparisons of academic burnout in Asia, however the equivalency of various measurements of academic burnout remains unclear, as well as whether the key characteristics of academic burnout are similar across cultures or nations. The current study conducted a cross-cultural investigation of academic burnout among secondary school students in China and Kazakhstan to address two objectives: (a) to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Academic Burnout Scale between the two nations, and (b) using a network approach, to compare the similarities and differences in the core features and network structure of academic burnout. Two datasets were gathered from secondary school students, a Chinese sample (51.1% girls; M = 14.42 years, SD = 1.47) and a Kazakhstani sample (56.1% girls; M = 14.16, SD = 1.41). Results showed that the Academic Burnout Scale had similar item-factor combination and factor loadings for both the Chinese and Kazakhstani samples, however item thresholds were not equivalent across the two countries, suggesting that comparing mean scores of academic burnout among secondary students in these two countries is not meaningful. The network structure of academic burnout demonstrated a similar pattern in both samples, with Item 6 ("It does not matter if I study or not") assessing cynicism, and Item 15 ("I cope well with my studies") being the core feature in both samples. Our findings further the understanding of academic burnout in a cross-cultural context, and provide clinical implications for interventions on academic burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease (SEMCD) scale is widely used, including in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The SEMCD has been validated in SSc, but the metric equivalence of the English and French versions has not been assessed (i.e., whether psychometric properties are equivalent across English and French). Methods: Participants were adults from the Scleroderma Patient-Centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort (N = 2159) who completed baseline measures in English (n = 1473) or French (n = 686) between May 2014 to July 2020. Analyses assessed internal consistency reliability via Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, convergent validity via Pearson's correlations, structural validity via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and differential item functioning via the Multiple-Indicator Multiple-Cause (MIMIC) model. Results: Internal consistency reliability was high in English (α =.93, ω =.93) and French (α =.92, ω =.93). All correlations between the SEMCD and measures of health outcomes were moderate to large, statistically significant, and in the hypothesized direction in both languages. The CFA demonstrated that the one-factor model of self-efficacy, overall, fit reasonably well (CFI =.96, TLI =.93, SRMR =.03, RMSEA =.14). Standardized factor loadings were large (.76 to.88). Three items displayed statistically significant uniform DIF and all six displayed nonuniform DIF; all DIF was of minimal magnitude. Comparison of unadjusted and DIF-adjusted models indicated that DIF did not meaningfully impact total score (ICC = 0.999, r = 0.999). Conclusion: Scores from English- and French-speaking adults with SSc can be combined for analysis or compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Academic Encouragement Scale (AES) was revised in Chinese. A total of 645 Chinese undergraduates and graduate students participated in the test.The results show that there are 10 items in the Simplified Chinese Language Version of the Academic Encouragement Scale(AES-SC),both exploratory factor analysis(EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis(CFA) support the two factor model structure of challenge centered encouragement(AES-Challenge) and potential centered encouragement(AES-Potential), and the model has measurement equivalence across genders (male / female) and across stages of learning (undergraduate / postgraduate). The AES-SC was shown to have good psychometric properties for its use with Chinese undergraduates and postgraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the measurement invariance of a brief self-report measure of childhood social-emotional competencies, the Middle Childhood Survey: Social-Emotional Learning (MCS-SEL), across demographic subgroups. Invariance was tested simultaneously among subgroups of children aged 11–12 years that were differentiated by sex (male, female) and main language spoken at home (English, not English). Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis evaluated structural and item-level invariance using two random, independent samples of 2,000 students (500 per demographic strata) selected by disproportionate sampling from the New South Wales Child Development Study (NSW-CDS) population cohort. The measure achieved full configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance across all demographic subgroups, validating its utility for assessing middle childhood social-emotional competencies at a population-level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survey infrastructure synergies can support the sustainability of existing European survey programmes by maximising resources and expertise. The study uses the scale of gender role attitudes (GRA) surveyed in the fifth wave of the European Values Study (EVS2017) as an example to explore how such cooperation could produce improved measurements in a context of methodological innovation. The EVS implemented tools and strategies that may affect cross-sectional comparability, such as the translation approach and the use of mixed-modes as well as the increased standardisation of the procedures, documentation and monitoring. After describing the revision of the GRA scale of EVS2017 and assessing its content validity, the study discusses its comparability. By applying multi-group confirmatory factor analysis and the recently established alignment method, measurement equivalence is reached both cross-sectionally and across modes of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual analogue scales (VASs) are used in a variety of patient-, observer- and clinician-reported outcome measures. While typically included in measures originally developed for pen-and-paper completion, a greater number of clinical trials currently use electronic approaches to their collection. This leads researchers to question whether the measurement properties of the scale have been conserved during the migration to an electronic format, particularly because electronic formats often use a different scale length than the 100 mm paper standard. Methods: We performed a review of published studies investigating the measurement comparability of paper and electronic formats of the VAS. Results: Our literature search yielded 26 studies published between 1997 and 2018 that reported comparison of paper and electronic formats using the VAS. After excluding 2 publications, 23 of the remaining 24 studies included in this review reported electronic formats of the VAS (eVAS) and paper formats (pVAS) to be equivalent. A further study concluded that eVAS and pVAS were both acceptable but should not be interchanged. eVAS length varied from 21 to 200 mm, indicating that 100 mm length is not a requirement. Conclusions: The literature supports the hypothesis that eVAS and pVAS provide comparable results regardless of the VAS length. When implementing a VAS on a screen-based electronic mode, we recommend following industry best practices for faithful migration to minimise the likelihood of non-comparability with pVAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of loneliness among Turkish–Dutch and Moroccan–Dutch older adults is higher than among Dutch older adults of non-migrant origin. Three explanations may account for this difference: (1) differential item functioning might result in scores that vary in intensity and in meaning across categories; (2) the position of migrants is much more vulnerable than that of non-migrants; (3) the lack of protective factors has more severe consequences for older migrants. The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam interviewed 176 persons born in Morocco and 235 born in Turkey, aged 55–66 and living in urban areas. They are compared with a matched sample of 292 Dutch persons. The psychometric properties of the loneliness scale are satisfying, although there is some differential item functioning. Older migrants have more frequent social contacts but are at a disadvantage in other domains. Taking into account differences in social participation, satisfaction with income, mastery and depressive symptoms, the difference between older migrants' and non-migrants' loneliness is reduced by more than half. Protective factors are equally important for older migrants and non-migrants. Exceptions are marriage (less protective for Moroccans), frequent contact with children/children-in-law (mostly for Turks), a higher educational level (protects Moroccans and Turks) and better physical functioning (less for Turks). Being an older migrant and belonging to a minority might further contribute to feelings of loneliness. Interventions can be directed at stimulating social contact, but also at aspects like enhancing the appreciation of their social status and avoiding negative interpretations of a situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) in Ghana and its associations with individual-level ambidexterity and employees' service performance. The CAAS International-Form constitutes four sub-scales, each with six items, which measure career concern, career control, career curiosity, and career confidence as self-regulatory resources that could help individuals to effectively manage occupational transitions, developmental tasks, and work roles. We hypothesized that career adaptability relates positively to the two outcomes. We tested the internal consistency, factor structure, and the hypotheses with 443 service representatives in Ghana. Results indicated that the overall CAAS score and sub-scales were good and reliable. The factor structure was identical to that of the CAAS International-Form. As expected, career adaptability positively related to individual-level ambidexterity and employees' service performance. These findings provide insights for research and career development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Disparities in US physician burnout rates across age, gender, and specialty groups as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI) are well documented. We evaluated whether disparities in US physician burnout are explained by differences in the MBI's functioning across physician age, gender, and specialty groups. Methods: We assessed the measurement equivalence of the MBI across age, gender, and specialty groups in multi-group item response theory- (IRT-) based differential item functioning (DIF) analyses using secondary, cross-sectional survey data from US physicians (n = 6577). We detected DIF using two IRT-based methods and assessed its impact by estimating the overall average difference in groups' subscale scores attributable to DIF. We assessed DIF's practical significance by comparing differences in individuals' subscale scores and burnout prevalence estimates from models unadjusted and adjusted for DIF. Results: We detected statistically significant age-, gender-, and specialty- DIF in all but one MBI item. However, in all cases, average differences in expected subscale-level scores due to DIF were < 0.10 SD on each subscale. Differences in physicians' individual-level subscale scores and burnout symptom prevalence estimates across DIF- adjusted and unadjusted IRT models were also small (in all cases, mean absolute differences in individual subscale scores were < 0.04 z-score units; prevalence estimates differed by < 0.70%). Conclusions: Age-, gender-, and specialty-related disparities in US physician burnout are not explained by differences in the MBI's functioning across these demographic groups. Our findings support the use of the MBI as a valid tool to assess age-, gender-, and specialty-related disparities in US physician burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Administering patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) by text message may improve response rate in hard-to-reach populations. This study explored cultural acceptability of PROMs and compared measurement equivalence of the EQ-5D-3L administered on paper and by text message in a rural South African setting.Materials and Methods: Participants with upper or lower limb orthopaedic pathology were recruited. The EQ-5D was administered first on paper and then by text message after 24 h and 7 days. Differences in mean scores for paper and text message versions of the EQ-5D were evaluated. Test-retest reliability between text message versions was evaluated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs).Results: 147 participants completed a paper EQ-5D. Response rates were 67% at 24 h and 58% at 7 days. There were no differences in means between paper and text message responses for the EQ-5D Index (p = 0.95) or EQ-5D VAS (p = 0.26). There was acceptable agreement between the paper and 24-h text message EQ-5D Index (0.84; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.78-0.89) and EQ-5D VAS (0.73; 95% CI 0.64-0.82) and acceptable agreement between the 24-h and 7-day text message EQ-Index (0.72; CI 0.62-0.82) and EQ-VAS (0.72; CI 0.62-0.82). Non-responder traits were increasing age, Xhosa as first language and lower educational levels.Conclusions: Text messaging is equivalent to paper-based measurement of EQ-5D in this setting and is thus a viable tool for responders. Non-responders had similar socioeconomic characteristics and attrition rates to traditional modes of administration. The EQ-5D by text message offers potential clinical and research uses in hard-to-reach populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scrolling is a perceived barrier in the use of bring your own device (BYOD) to capture electronic patient reported outcomes (ePROs). This study explored the impact of scrolling on the measurement equivalence of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) in the presence and absence of scrolling. Methods: Adult participants with a chronic condition involving daily pain completed ePROMs on four devices with different scrolling properties: a large provisioned device not requiring scrolling; two provisioned devices requiring scrolling – one with a "smart-scrolling" feature that disabled the "next" button until all information was viewed, and a second without this feature; and BYOD with smart-scrolling. The ePROMs included were the SF-12, EQ-5D-5L, and three pain measures: a visual analogue scale, a numeric response scale and a Likert scale. Participants completed English or Spanish versions according to their first language. Associations between ePROM scores were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), with lower bound of 95% confidence interval (CI) > 0.7 indicating comparability. Results: One hundred fifteen English- or Spanish-speaking participants (21-75y) completed all four administrations. High associations between scrolling and non-scrolling were observed (ICCs: 0.71–0.96). The equivalence threshold was met for all but one SF-12 domain score (bodily pain; lower 95% CI: 0.65) and two EQ-5D-5L item scores (pain/discomfort, usual activities; lower 95% CI: 0.64/0.67). Age, language, and device size produced insignificant differences in scores. Conclusions: The measurement properties of PROMs are preserved even in the presence of scrolling on a handheld device. Further studies that assess scrolling impact over long-term, repeated use are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) is important to adolescent developmental trajectories and their well-being. While the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-S) has been widely implemented to measure affect among adolescents, measurement equivalence of the scale has rarely been addressed. This study investigated measurement equivalence of the PANAS-C across gender and ethnicity (Black and White) among a sample of South African adolescents. It also examined group differences in PA and NA between males and females, and between the two ethnic groups. Data was available for 1062 adolescents with a mean age of 15.9 years. Results from a uniform differential item analysis suggested that the items on both the PA and NA subscales function largely similarly across gender and ethnicity. Using Bayesian analyses to investigate group differences in PA and NA, boys scored higher on positive affect, and girls higher on negative affect. There were no differences in either PA or NA among Black and White adolescents. The significance and implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to explore latent mean differences regarding country, gender and age in life satisfaction. The sample was composed by 701 adolescents (Mage = 14.93, SD = 1.83) from Spain (74.2%) and Mexico (25.8%). Confirmatory factor analysis modeling was used to test for multigroup measurement invariance. To compare groups two methods were used: (1) fitting two models and running an Anova; and (2) the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes Model (MIMIC) which links an observed covariate (country, gender and age) with a latent variable such as the SWLS score. Results supported a single-factor structure. The internal consistency of the SWLS, and the tests of measurement invariance supported its strict invariance regarding country and gender, and strong invariance regarding age. Latent mean differences showed better perceptions in life satisfaction for males and the youngest, while no cross-cultural differences were found between adolescents from Spain and Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: End-stage renal disease patients' experience of care is an integral part of the assessment of the quality of the care provided at hemodialysis centers and is needed to promote patient choice, quality improvement, and accountability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH-CAHPS®) survey and its equivalence in different age, gender, race, and education subgroups.Methods: The ICH-CAHPS survey was administered to 1454 patients from 32 dialysis facilities. For the characteristics compared, the sample had 756 participants younger than 65 years old, 739 men, 516 Black, 567 White, and 970 with less than high school diploma. Three different patient experience constructs were studied including nephrologist's communication and caring, quality of care and operations, and providing information to patients. We used item response theory analysis to examine the possibility of differential item functioning (DIF) by patient age, gender, race, and education separately after controlling for the other DIF characteristics and additional confounding variables including survey mode, mental, and general health status as well as duration on dialysis.Results: The three constructs studied were unidimensional and no major DIF was observed on the composites. Some non-equivalences were observed when confounders were not controlled for, suggesting that such covariates can be important factors in understanding the possibility of disparity in patients' experience.Conclusions: The ICH-CAHPS is a promising survey to elicit hemodialysis patients' experience that has good psychometric properties and provides a standardized tool for assessing age, gender, race, or education disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research intro political trust—its causes, correlates and trends—builds on the twin assumptions that trust in a wide range of political institutions is ultimately an expression of (1) a singular and (2) a cross-nationally equivalent underlying attitude. Yet, the widespread assumptions of unidimensionality and cross-national equivalence of political trust is at odds with the dominant conceptual understanding of political trust as a relational concept, driven by subjects, objects, and their interplay. This paper employs Rasch modelling as a direct, strict test of unidimensionality, equivalence and item hierarchy. We test the fit of the Rasch model on political trust items in seven widely used, cross-national surveys (World Values Survey, Afrobarometer, Arabbarometer, Asian Barometer, Eurobarometer, European Social Survey, and Latinobarometro), covering 161 national surveys in 119 countries across the globe. We find that the unidimensional specification of the Rasch model does not fit the standard political trust question batteries. Political trust is not cross-nationally equivalent; trust in specific political institutions is more than a mere indicator of an underlying attitude. This conclusion does not impede cross-national research into political trust; rather it illustrates the need for consistent robustness checks across a range of objects of political trust. Our findings open up new venues for substantive research questions on specific objects of political trust and their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a novel measurement model of labour market segmentation in Europe for cross-national comparisons, tackling three drawbacks of current approaches: First, as segmentation is a multi-dimensional concept, it necessitates a complex measurement approach combining several indicators. Second, to date, we lack methodological evidence that earlier used measures are comparable across countries. Third, as any measure of social phenomena contains measurement error, segmentation research may be confounded by misclassification error. To overcome these drawbacks, we argue for modelling segmentation as a latent categorical concept by means of characteristics of the employment relationship. Our analysis shows that accounting for measurement non-equivalence in cross-national labour market segmentation research is crucial to arrive at reliable and unbiased comparative conclusions. The results demonstrate the importance of increased complexity in measuring labour market segmentation. Overall, this article serves as a methodological cross-national comparative framework for future quantitative analysis of labour market segmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neighborhood research, the concept of collective efficacy has been particularly successful in capturing social cohesion and behavioral expectations among residents. Research has spread beyond the U.S. where it originated, and many studies from different countries have shown that collective efficacy is related to structural disadvantage in similar ways and affects outcomes as crime, education or health. However, methodological issues about measurement and modeling persist, and no study has yet investigated the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of this scale. We close this gap using two recent neighborhood surveys from Australia and Germany with large samples of respondents (N = ca. 12.800) and neighborhoods (N = ca. 440) in four cities. We employ multilevel structural equation modeling to test for measurement equivalence of collective efficacy across countries and to model its association with concentrated poverty, ethnic diversity, and residential stability. We find that the measurement of collective efficacy is metrically equivalent in both countries, modeling two latent factors on the respondent level—the two components informal social control and social cohesion/trust—but only one latent factor on the neighborhood level. Considering the relationship between the key correlates of collective efficacy, we find broad similarities but also substantial differences across contexts and compared to U.S. research, particularly concerning the role of ethnic diversity which has a stronger diminishing effect in Germany than in Australia. Possible explanations for these differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of clinical trials employ electronic media, in particular smartphones and tablets, to collect patient-reported outcome data. This is driven by the ubiquity of the technology, and an increased awareness of associated improvements in data integrity, quality and timeliness. Despite this, there remains a lingering question relating to the measurement equivalence of an instrument when migrated from paper to a screen-based format. As a result, researchers often must provide evidence demonstrating the measurement equivalence of paper and electronic versions, such as that recommended by the ISPOR ePRO Good Research Practices Task Force. In the last decade, a considerable body of work has emerged that overwhelmingly supports the measurement equivalence of instruments using screen-based electronic formats. Our review of key works derives recommendations on evidence needed to support electronic implementation. We recommend application of best practice recommendations is sufficient to conclude measurement equivalence with paper PROMs. In addition, we recommend that previous usability evidence in a representative group is sufficient, as opposed to per-study testing. Further, we conclude that this also applies to studies using multiple screen-based devices, including bring-your-own-device, if a minimum device specification can be ensured and the instrument is composed of standard response scale types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing recognition of the importance of testing for measurement equivalence when comparing latent constructs—such as political trust—across countries and over time. Indeed, equivalence of measurements across countries and time points is a precondition for making meaningful and valid comparisons of means, scores, and relationships between constructs. Until recently, most efforts in this area of comparative research have focused on establishing measurement equivalence across groups, such as countries or cultural regions. In contrast, scarce attention has been paid to examining the measurement equivalence of constructs across levels of data. Rather, most empirical studies that use cross-national survey data assume that the factorial structure of a given construct is isomorphic, in other words, similar in measurement and meaning at the individual and country level. This assumption is not always justified, as the dimensions found at the individual level of data do not always generalize to the country level. In such cases, the results and substantive conclusions based on the assumption of measurement isomorphism may be misleading. In this article, we emphasize the importance of examining measurement isomorphism when working with cross-national survey data and describe a testing procedure using multilevel confirmatory factor analysis. We illustrate the procedure by examining cross-level equivalence of the political trust scale included in the European Social Survey (2008-2009). The results of the analysis indicate that the structure of political trust factor can be considered configurally isomorphic across individual and country levels. In addition, the measurement scale across the two levels is found to be partially isomorphic. These findings could be regarded as an encouraging result for the applied researchers who use the aggregated individual scores of political trust. At the same time, we demonstrate that measurement isomorphism cannot be simply assumed and hence should be examined prior to analysis to ensure valid and meaningful results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Psychosomatic symptoms and mental health problems are highly prevalent in multimorbid elderly people challenging general practitioners to differentiate between normal stress and psychopathological conditions. The 4DSQ is a Dutch questionnaire developed to detect anxiety, depression, somatization, and distress in primary care. This study aims to analyze measurement equivalence between a German version and the original Dutch instrument.Methods: A Dutch and a German sample of multimorbid elderly people, matched by gender and age, were analyzed. Equivalence of scale structures was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). To evaluate measurement equivalence across languages, differential item functioning (DIF) was analyzed using Mantel-Haenszel method and hybrid ordinal logistic regression analysis. Differential test functioning (DTF) was assessed using Rasch analysis.Results: A total of 185 German and 185 Dutch participants completed the questionnaire. The CFA confirmed one-factor models for all scales of both 4DSQ versions. Nine items in three scales were flagged with DIF. The anxiety scale showed to be free of DIF. DTF analysis revealed negligible scale impact of DIF.Conclusions: The German 4DSQ demonstrated measurement equivalence to the original Dutch instrument. Hence, it can be considered a valid questionnaire for the screening for mental health problems in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Loss of Control (LOC) is a transdiagnostic factor in eating pathology, there are few standalone assessments of LOC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the uni-dimensionality and measurement equivalence of the Eating Loss of Control Scale (ELOCS). Confirmatory factor analyses were used to achieve a well-fitting uni-dimensional model in clinical (N = 226) and non-clinical (N = 476) samples. Measurement equivalence was tested in a factor analytic framework, and effect sizes were computed to evaluate the impact of non-equivalence. A well-fitting model was achieved in both samples after the removal of 4 items. The instrument showed configural equivalence but not metric equivalence. Results suggest that the ELOCS is a reliable and valid measure of LOC in clinical and non-clinical samples. However, while the nature of the LOC construct is similar across binge eating and non-clinical participants, comparisons of ELOCS across these groups are affected by measurement non-equivalence. This research also revealed novel insights into the relative sensitivity of model fitting and effect size approaches to investigating measurement equivalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two dimensional standards are important materials which are used in the calibration and the verification of coordinate measuring machines. In several countries, the national metrology institutes or accredit laboratories provide the calibration services of the two dimensional standards such as ball plates, hole plates and grid plates. The metrological equivalence of the measurement standards among the calibration providers is validated through the key comparison program. In the previous key comparison for a ball plate and a hole plate, the equivalences among the participants’ calibration results were verified on the distances between the No. 1 ball/hole (i.e., the origins of the workpiece coordinates) and other balls/holes on the plates respectively. The essential measurands of the two dimensional standards are the coordinates of the feature points, however, the measurement equivalences on them have not been verified. In this study, the authors propose the coordinates-based evaluation of the reference values and their uncertainty in two dimensional standard calibration comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many paper-and-pencil (P&P) questionnaires have been migrated to electronic platforms. Differential item and test functioning (DIF and DTF) analysis constitutes a superior research design to assess measurement equivalence across modes of administration. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate an item response theory (IRT)-based DIF and DTF analysis to assess the measurement equivalence of a Web-based version and the original P&P format of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ), measuring distress, depression, anxiety, and somatization.Methods: The P&P group (n = 2031) and the Web group (n = 958) consisted of primary care psychology clients. Unidimensionality and local independence of the 4DSQ scales were examined using IRT and Yen's Q3. Bifactor modeling was used to assess the scales' essential unidimensionality. Measurement equivalence was assessed using IRT-based DIF analysis using a 3-stage approach: linking on the latent mean and variance, selection of anchor items, and DIF testing using the Wald test. DTF was evaluated by comparing expected scale scores as a function of the latent trait.Results: The 4DSQ scales proved to be essentially unidimensional in both modalities. Five items, belonging to the distress and somatization scales, displayed small amounts of DIF. DTF analysis revealed that the impact of DIF on the scale level was negligible.Conclusions: IRT-based DIF and DTF analysis is demonstrated as a way to assess the equivalence of Web-based and P&P questionnaire modalities. Data obtained with the Web-based 4DSQ are equivalent to data obtained with the P&P version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous research suggests that gender differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may reflect measurement bias rather than true differences in underlying health status. The aim of this study is to examine whether the Veterans Rand 12-item Health Survey (VR-12) allows for unbiased comparisons of physical and mental health scores across gender. The VR-12 is a generic PROM consisting of 12 items with 3-6 response options for the measurement of mental and physical health.Methods: Study data were from the 2015 Health Outcomes Survey pertaining to the Medicare beneficiaries. A total of 277,518 participants included 116,817 (42.1%) males and 160,701 (57.9%) females. Scale-level and item-level differential functioning methods were applied using multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis and ordinal logistic regression, respectively.Results: The scale-level differential functioning showed support for strict invariance (RMSEA = 0.045; CFI = 0.995) across gender. Although we found statistically significant differential item functioning for several items, the magnitude was negligible (maximum ΔR 2 = 0.007).Conclusion: The VR-12 physical and mental health status scores are unbiased with respect to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do standard 'trust in government' survey questions deliver measures which are reliable and equivalent in meaning across diverse regime types? I test for the measurement equivalence of political trust in a sample of 35 former Soviet and European countries using the 2010 Life in Transition Survey II conducted by the World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Employing multiple group confirmatory factor analysis, I find that trust perceptions in central political institutions differ from (1) trust in regional and local political institutions, (2) trust in protective institutions like the armed forces and police and (3) trust in order institutions like the courts and police. Four measurement models achieve partial metric invariance and two reach partial scalar invariance in most countries, allowing for comparisons of correlates using latent factors from each model. I also found some clustering of measurement error and variation in the dimensionality of political trust between democratic and autocratic portions of the sample. On some measurement parameters, therefore, respondents in diverse cultures and regime types do not have equivalent understandings of political trust. The findings offer both optimism and a note of caution for researchers using political trust measures in cross-regime contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to measure ideology, political scientists heavily rely on the so-called left-right scale. Left and right are, however, abstract political concepts and may trigger different associations among respondents. If these associations vary systematically with other variables this may induce bias in the empirical study of ideology. We illustrate this problem using a unique survey that asked respondents open-ended questions regarding the meanings they attribute to the concepts 'left' and 'right'. We assess and categorize this textual data using topic modeling techniques. Our analysis shows that variation in respondents' associations is systematically related to their self-placement on the left-right scale and also to variables such as education and respondents' cultural background (East vs. West Germany). Our findings indicate that the interpersonal comparability of the left-right scale across individuals is impaired. More generally, our study suggests that we need more research on how respondents interpret various abstract concepts that we regularly use in survey questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diversity Climate Scale is a questionnaire developed in the U.S. for the investigation of employees' shared perceptions about their organizational context related to women and minorities. The measure was not used in the European context yet. The psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of the Mor Barak, Cherin and Berkman Diversity Climate Scale were investigated in this work by using a sample of Italian (n = 395) white-collar and blue-collar employees. A pilot study to make the scale suitable for the Italian context was conducted using the cognitive interview technique. Then a series of multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses was performed. The results showed that a three-factor solution best fit the data, using only 12 items of the original scale. The analyses supported factor variance and factor covariance equivalence in addition to metric equivalence. Internal consistency of the scale was good. Discriminant validity between latent factors and Criterion validity were supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Asians report worse experiences with care than Whites. This could be due to true differences in care received, expectations about care, or survey response styles. We examined responses to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Medicare survey items by Whites and Asians, controlling for underlying level on the CAHPS constructs.Methods: We conducted multiple group analyses to evaluate measurement equivalence of CAHPS Medicare survey data between White and Asian Medicare beneficiaries for CAHPS reporting composites (communication with personal doctor, access to care, plan customer service) and global ratings of care using pooled data from 2007 to 2011. Responses were obtained from 1,326,410 non-Hispanic Whites and 40,672 non-Hispanic Asians (hereafter referred to as Whites and Asians). The median age for Whites was 70, with 24 % 80 or older, and 70 for Asians, with 23 % 80 or older. Fifty-eight percent of Whites and 56 % of Asians were female.Results: A model without group-specific estimates fit the data as well as a model that included 12 group-specific estimates (7 factor loadings, 3 measured variable errors, and 2 item intercepts): Comparative Fit Index = 0.947 and 0.948; root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.052 and 0.052, respectively). Differences in latent CAHPS score means between Whites and Hispanics estimated from the two models were similar, differing by 0.053 SD or less.Conclusions: This study provides support for measurement equivalence of the CAHPS Medicare survey composites (communication, access, customer service) and global ratings between White and Asian respondents, supporting comparisons of care experiences between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of psychometric data for both the English and Chinese versions of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to support its usage among breast cancer patients. This study examined the psychometric properties and measurement equivalence of the English and Chinese versions of BAI among breast cancer patients in Singapore.Methods: Patients were recruited from two major cancer centers in Singapore. The criterion and construct validity of BAI was assessed by its correlation strength with (1) the emotional functioning subdomain of EORTC QLQ-C30 and (2) constructs related to anxiety, namely fatigue, dyspnea, and quality of life. The known-group validity was assessed according to the patients' breast cancer stage, religious beliefs, and emotional functioning levels. The internal consistency of the BAI domains was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Regression analysis was performed to compare the BAI total and domain scores between the two language versions.Results: Data from 244 patients (144 English-speaking and 100 Chinese-speaking) were analyzed. For both language versions, the BAI total scores correlated moderately with the EORTC QLQ-C30 emotional functioning subdomain (r = -0.655 and -0.601). Correlations with fatigue, quality of life, and dyspnea were moderate (|r| = 0.456-0.606). Patients with poorer emotional functioning reported higher anxiety levels, establishing known-group validity. All BAI domains demonstrated satisfactory internal consistencies (α = 0.74-0.87), except for the panic domain (α = 0.57-0.61). Possible measurement equivalence between the language versions was established.Conclusion: Both English and Chinese versions of BAI are valid, reliable, and possibly equivalent for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nation-level subjective well-being (SWB) indicators (e.g., happiness and life satisfaction) have received increased interest among researchers and policy makers. This increased interest has led to questions about the measurement and comparability of SWB scores. In this paper, we examined the comparability of scores derived from scale transformations (e.g., the 'linear stretch method'): a procedure that places SWB scales with different scale points (e.g., 3-points, 4-points) on a common metric. Controlling for nation-level and temporal trends, our results reveal that scale transformations potentially lead to biases for both happiness and life satisfaction scales. Moreover, these potential biases may affect substantive research. This is illustrated when we demonstrate that scale transformations may substantially attenuate the relation between national Gross Domestic Product per capita and happiness. Implications of these findings and limitations of the current study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future expectations, a subset of overall orientation, represent youths' most realistic appraisals of future outcomes, and has been demonstrated to be associated with a range of health risk behaviors and wellbeing. The current study extends previous measurement efforts to operationalize and measure future expectations by estimating a multidimensional model of future expectations encompassing both positive and survival-based expectations, and using longitudinal data to test the consistency of these constructs over time. The current work uses data from six waves of the Chicago Youth Development Study (n = 338), a sample of African American and Latino young men from low income neighborhoods in an urban center, to test a hypothesized multidimensional structure of future expectations across adolescence. Test retest confirmatory factor analyses from six waves of data covering the mean age range of 12-19 years reveal good model fit for the hypothesized multidimensional model of future expectations at each wave. Strong measurement invariance based on race/ethnicity is established for the multidimensional model. Implications for a latent construct approach to future expectations with low-income racial/ethnic minority young men are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attitude change is frequently measured by comparing respondents' scores on the same instrument at different points in time. However, there is a variety of methodological challenges in measuring attitude change: when respondents' handling of the questionnaire or their understanding of the items change, the comparability of constructs is threatened. This paper proposes the investigation of systematic methodological variation over time by multiple correspondence analysis. Visualizing respondents' 'cognitive maps' facilitates the exploration of both changes in the underlying structure of attitude constructs-that is, changes in meaning-as well as data quality. The approach is illustrated with the analysis of two item batteries on gender role attitude from the BHPS and the BSA from the beginning of the 1990s to the mid-2000s. Both data sets exhibit similar structural changes - more methodological variation and increasing complexity of the attitude construct. The comparison of latent structures over time provides useful information about the nature of change in social constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a sample of 373 Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, the dimensionality of the 23-item Chinese Parental Sacrifice Scale and measurement invariance across perceived paternal and maternal attributes from the perception of adolescents were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the hypothesized dimensions of the measure (striving for family resources, time spent on children's education, restructuring of daily routine, sacrifice of lifestyles and aspirations, shielding of worries). Results also showed that the related measures of adolescents' perceived parental sacrifice were equivalent in terms of model structure, factor loadings, intercepts of measured variable and factor variance-covariance across the paternal and maternal versions. Hence, the Chinese Parental Sacrifice Scale can be regarded as an objective measure assessing perceived parental sacrifice with high factorial validity and measurement equivalence that can be used by family practitioners working with Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing acknowledgment of children's agency has increased the use of child reports in family research. This study investigates three challenges that are related to the inclusion of children in surveys: 1) selection bias in the sample through parent and child refusal; 2) measurement equivalence of parent and child reports; and 3) the effect of parental presence during the interview on child reports. These challenges are investigated with the multi-actor data of the Divorce in Flanders study. The study shows that divorced parents more often refuse child participation than married parents. A parental refusal is also more likely in case of less frequent open communication with the child. The results further indicate that children answer as reliably as their parents on survey questions, but also that children report less frequent parental conflict, a less problematic communication with their mother, and a less open communication with mother and father, than their parents. This suggests that children's perspectives on family relations are different from their parents. Therefore, including child reports in family research may enhance the understanding of family life. Finally, children tend to report slightly different on family relations when parents are present. It is concluded that processes of social desirability and selection are important to take into account when investigating children's reports on their family life, as they can bias results and limit generalizability of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explores the factor structure of the interRAI self-report nursing home quality of life survey and develops a measure that will allow researchers to compare predictors of quality of life (QOL) across resident, family, and staff perspectives. Methods: Nursing home residents ( N = 319), family members ( N = 397), and staff ( N = 862) were surveyed about their perceptions of resident QOL. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted on a random half of the staff data. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis was used to test for measurement equivalence across the three perspectives. Results: The final model had a four-factor structure (i.e., care and support, food, autonomy, and activities) across all three perspectives. Each factor had at least two items that were equivalent across all three perspectives, which suggests at least partial measurement equivalence. Conclusion: The finding of partial measurement equivalence acknowledges there are important differences between perspectives and provides a tool that researchers can use to compare predictors of QOL, but not levels of agreement across perspectives. Targeting these four aspects is likely to have the additional benefit of improving family and staff perceptions of resident QOL in addition to the resident's own QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear whether group differences reported in literature emerged based on true differences or due to measurement bias across gender. The present study aimed to assess the measurement equivalence of three constructs (physical aggression, social aggression, and rule breaking) derived from Subtypes of Antisocial Behaviour (STAB) measure across gender. A sample of 1191 school-going adolescents (41.80 % males and 57.70 % females) was used to test seven types of equivalence: configural, metric, scalar, latent variances, latent mean, latent covariances, and functional equivalence. Physical aggression demonstrated configural invariance, invariance of latent variance, invariance of latent covariance, and functional equivalence, but not metric and scalar invariances. Social aggression and rule-breaking constructs demonstrated equivalence at all levels. Females scored lower on physical aggression, social aggression, and rule breaking compared to males, indicating true gender differences in antisocial behaviour. Assessments of measurement equivalence should be conducted before drawing substantive inferences about gender differences in antisocial behaviour among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the usage rates, measurement equivalence, and potential outcome differences between mobile and non-mobile device-based deliveries of an unproctored, non-cognitive assessment. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design based on archival data obtained from applicants who completed a non-cognitive assessment on a mobile ( n = 7,743; e.g., smartphones, tablet computers) or non-mobile ( n = 929,341; e.g., desktop computers) device as part of an operational, high-stakes pre-employment selection process. Findings: One percent of applicants used mobile devices to complete the assessment. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated the assessment was equivalent across mobile and non-mobile devices at the configural, metric, scalar, and latent mean levels. A comparison of observed score means using one-way and factorial ANOVAs demonstrated that the use of mobile and non-mobile devices did not produce any practically significant score differences on the assessment across devices or applicant demographic subgroups. Implications: Industry and technological trends suggest mobile device usage will only increase. Thus, demonstrating that mobile device functionality and hardware characteristics do not change the psychometric functioning or applicant outcomes for a non-cognitive, text-based selection assessment is critical to talent assessment. Originality/Value: This study provides the first empirical examination of the usage of mobile devices to complete talent assessments and their impact on assessment properties and applicant outcomes, and serves as the foundation for future research and application of this growing technological trend in pre-employment assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the frame of the European Social Survey (ESS), a series of experiments were conducted to investigate if and how the ESS might move from the single face-to-face survey to a mixed-mode design. In order to determine this, many aspects have to be considered. As the ESS wants to maintain the possibility to compare its data across countries and across time, one of the requirements to introduce a mixed-mode design is that it leads to a similar data quality as the current unimode face-to-face design. In this study, we define the quality as the strength of the relationship between the latent concept of interest and the observed answers. Analyzing the experiment done in parallel of the ESS round 6 (2012-2013) in Estonia and the UK, we find that the quality is similar in the unimode and mixed-mode designs, at least for given scales. This is true both for single items and for composite scores. Therefore, standardized relationships in the main ESS round 6 and the mixed-mode experiments can be compared. Besides, for the composite scores, we also find metric and scalar invariance, meaning that unstandardized relationships and means can be compared for the two concepts tested across the unimode and the mixed-mode designs too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent evolutionary psychology and human behavioral ecology studies have tested hypotheses by examining correlations between variables measured at a group level (e.g., state, country, continent). In such analyses, variables collected for each aggregation are often taken to be representative of the individuals present within them, and relationships between such variables are presumed to reflect individual-level processes. There are multiple reasons to exercise caution when doing so, including: (1) the ecological fallacy, whereby relationships observed at the aggregate level do not accurately represent individual-level processes; (2) non-independence of data points, which violates assumptions of the inferential techniques used in null hypothesis testing; and (3) cross-cultural non-equivalence of measurement (differences in construct validity between groups). We provide examples of how each of these gives rise to problems in the context of testing evolutionary hypotheses about human behavior, and we offer some suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over 50 years (1958-2012) the American National Election Studies (ANES) survey has been measuring citizens' evaluations of the trustworthiness of the 'government in Washington'-an indicator that has been widely used to monitor the dynamics of political trust in the US over time. However, a critical assumption in using attitudinal constructs for longitudinal research is that the meaning-and-interpretation of such items should be comparable across groups of respondents at any one point in time and across samples over time. Using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis for ordered-categorical data, we test the measurement equivalence assumption with data collected by the ANES from 1964 to 2008. The results confirm that the ANES' political trust scale has the same basic factorial structure over time. But for two key items, several threshold parameters were found to be different across time points, indicating that the meaning-and-interpretation of these questions, and especially the question about whether the government in Washington wastes money that people pay in taxes, varies significantly over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In using organizational surveys for decision-making, it is essential to consider measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I), which addresses the questions of whether score differences are attributable to differences in the latent variable we intend to measure, or attributable to confounding differences in measurement properties. Due to the tendency for null results to remain unpublished, most articles have focused on findings of, and reasons for violations of ME/I. On the other hand, little is available to practitioners and researchers concerning situations where ME/I can be expected to uphold. This is especially disconcerting due to the fact that the null is the desired result in such analyses, and allows for unfettered observed-score comparisons. This special issue presents a unique opportunity to provide such a discussion using real-world examples from an organizational culture survey. In doing so we hope to clear up confusion surrounding the concept of ME/I, when it can be expected, and how it relates to actual differences in scores. First, we review the basic tenets and past findings focusing on ME/I, and discuss the item response theory differential item functioning framework used here. Next, we show ME/I being upheld using organizational survey data wherein violations of ME/I would reasonably not be expected (i.e., the null hypothesis was predicted and supported), and simulate the consequences of ignoring ME/I. Finally, we suggest a set of conditions wherein ME/I is likely to be upheld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of mode, order of administration, and the interaction of mode and order on health-related quality of life scales when self-administered by mixed mode (paper-mode and web-mode) for measurement equivalence. Methods: Health-related quality of life data was analyzed from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI). A randomized crossover design assigned participants to two groups with a preferred 2-5-day washout period. Cognitive debriefing evaluated participants' mode preference. Results: Of the 245 men enrolled, 85 % completed both modes. The majority were White (97 %), college educated (66 %), reported an annual income >$75,000 (46 %), and a median age of 69 years. Intraclass correlation coefficients were high for each item on both instruments ( r = .54-.97). Exact percentage agreement for yes/no items was high (≥.88). For the SF-36, significant differences were observed for order of administration (physical component and physical function scores) and for the interaction between mode and order (mental component, role emotional, social function, vitality, and mental health scores). For the UCLA-PCI, the largest difference was 12.8 points lower for sexual bother for order of administration by web-mode first ( p = .03). Seventy percent preferred the web-mode, 21 % had no preference, and 9 % preferred the paper-mode. Conclusion: Web-mode and paper-mode administrations of the SF-36 and UCLA-PCI are equivalent in men with prostate cancer, implying that mixed-mode survey administration is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two issues regarding the use of the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ; Schwartz et al.: J. Cross. Cult. Psychol. 32:519-542, ) with older adults were addressed: (1) whether the quasi-circumplex structure of values, developed on younger adult samples, also emerges among older adults; and (2) whether the PVQ demonstrates measurement invariance across age groups and equivalence over time. The 40-item version of the PVQ was completed by 433 retired adults and 173 university students in Montreal, Canada. In both retired and student samples, the quasi-circumplex structure of values emerged using exploratory techniques, but was not supported by constrained confirmatory factor analyses. A modified 26-item model was necessary to achieve adequate fit indices in both samples, suggesting problems of multi-collinearity and internal discriminant validity. However, using the revised 26-item model of the values, support was found for most types of measurement invariance across age groups and time. The PVQ should, therefore, be considered appropriate for use across the adult lifespan and in longitudinal research. Results are discussed with regard to the Schwartz (In: Zanna M (ed) Advances in experimental social psychology. New York: Academic Press, pp. 1-65, ) value theory and the conceptualizing of values across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the measurement equivalence of an interactive voice response system (IVRS) version and the original paper-based version of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Methods: The QLQ-C30 is a cancer-specific, health-related quality of life questionnaire consisting of nine multi-item scales (physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social functioning, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, and quality of life) and six single item measures (dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, and financial problems). This study utilized a crossover design with subjects randomly assigned to one of two assessment orders: (1) paper then IVRS or (2) IVRS then paper. Equivalence between the two administration modes was established by comparing the 95 % lower confidence interval (CI) of the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for each scale, with a critical value of 0.70. Results: The ICCs for the nine multi-item scales were all above 0.79, ranging from 0.791 to 0.899 (ICC 95 % lower CI range 0.726-0.865) and significantly different from our threshold reliability of 0.70. The ICCs for the six single items ranged from 0.689 to 0.896 (ICC 95 % lower CI range 0.611-0.888). Two of the items, insomnia and appetite loss, were not statistically different from 0.70. When considered together, the per-protocol analysis results support the equivalence of the paper and IVRS versions of the QLQ-C30 for 13 of the 15 scores. Conclusion: This analysis provides evidence that the scores obtained from the IVRS version of the QLQ-C30 are equivalent to those obtained with the original paper version except for the insomnia and appetite loss items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present a theoretically based, multidimensional and comparable measurement of social cohesion, applicable in 47 European countries/regions using the most recent micro-level data of the European Value Study (EVS) from 2008 that build upon the previous research conducted on the EVS data from 1999 covering 33 countries. The analysis is conducted in five steps. In the first part, we create a set of measurable intermediate indicators that correspond to the social cohesion dimensions suggested by the theory. In the second part, we verify whether these indicators empirically corroborate the multidimensional structure of the concept proposed by the theory. The third part examines whether the obtained intermediate indicators of social cohesion form the same constructs across countries and whether they can yield a cross-country equivalent measure of social cohesion. In the fourth step, composite scores of all dimensions of social cohesion are calculated for all analysed countries/regions. The last step shows a practical application of the obtained indices and compares levels of social cohesion in six broader geographical regions of Europe to demonstrate the applicability of the measurement in comparative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to obtain norms of the SF-36v2 health survey and the association of summary component scores with socio-demographic variables in healthy households of tuberculosis (TB) patients. Design: All household members (18 years and above; healthy; literate) of registered tuberculosis patients who came for contact tracing during March 2010 to February 2011 at the respiratory clinic of Penang General Hospital were invited to complete the SF-36v2 health survey using the official translation of the questionnaire in Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. Scoring of the questionnaire was done using Quality Metric’s QM Certified Scoring Software version 4. Multivariate analysis was conducted to uncover the predictors of physical and mental health. Results: A total of 649 eligible respondents were approached, while 525 agreed to participate in the study (response rate = 80.1 %). Out of consenting respondents, 46.5 % were male and only 5.3 % were over 75 years. Internal consistencies met the minimum criteria ( α > 0.7). Reliability coefficients of the scales were always less than their own reliability coefficients. Mean physical component summary scale scores were equivalent to United States general population norms. However, there was a difference of more than three norm-based scoring points for mean mental component summary scores indicating poor mental health. A notable proportion of the respondents was at the risk of depression. Respondents aged 75 years and above ( p = 0.001; OR 32.847), widow ( p = 0.013; OR 2.599) and postgraduates ( p < 0.001; OR 7.865) were predictors of poor physical health while unemployment ( p = 0.033; OR 1.721) was the only predictor of poor mental health. Conclusion: The SF-36v2 is a valid instrument to assess HRQoL among the households of TB patients. Study findings indicate the existence of poor mental health and risk of depression among family caregivers of TB patients. We therefore recommend that caregivers of TB patients to be offered intensive support and special attention to cope with these emotional problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important assumption for comparing children's quality of life (QoL) between children's and parents' perceptions is that measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I) exists. The ME/I across the child- and parent-reported Chinese PedsQL was examined, and the latent means between child self-reports and parent-proxy reports were compared. Third-grade to sixth-grade children (n = 519) and their parents (n = 270) respectively completed the child- and parent-reported PedsQL. Seventy-eight parents completed parent-proxy reports twice. Full ME/I across child and parent reports was found in first- and second-order factor loadings. Partial ME/I was supported in item intercepts and item residual variances. The latent means of child self-reports and of parent-proxy reports were not significantly different, which suggested interchangeability between child- and parent-reported PedsQL. The ME/I results support the use of PedsQL scores to compare children's and parents' perceptions of children's QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The readiness and expectations questionnaire (REQ) assesses first-year students' expectations and preparedness for their first year in university. This measurement instrument is useful for educational policy and curriculum development; it can also be used to predict the outcomes of the first year of college. This instrument was initially developed to compare students enrolled in programs in the Netherlands and New Zealand, with predominant populations of domestic students. However, the Bologna process and globalisation trends also have increased the availability of international degree programmes. This raised the question whether the REQ can be used to compare groups of international students. Therefore, this article aims to assess the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the REQ in international bachelor degree programmes in economics and business in a Dutch university, taught in English. The results indicate that not all aspects of the instrument achieve measurement equivalence, but most of its scales, with some adaptations, can evaluate students' expectations and preparedness and thus encourage a better match between student and institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When measuring (complex) attitudes within a social survey, researchers often use balanced lists of positive and negative items. The purpose of the present research is to investigate: (a) whether a specific order of measurement scale items can lead to the bipolar (single-dimensional) concept (attitude) being recognised as a dual (bi-dimensional) concept and vice-versa; and (b) whether item order can affect the consistency (metric characteristics) of a measurement scale. An experiment on a group of social science students was conducted: students were randomly split into three subgroups and three different version of a questionnaire (with three differing item orders) were applied. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis ('CFA') and a single group CFA for each item order separately were applied. The final conclusion of the experiment is that there is no general rule about how and when respondents form separate (dual) or unidimensional (continuous) representations of measured concepts. Item-order effects are possible, but they are not as important as one would expect. The results of the experiment also suggest that other factors should be taken into account: the content of the measured concept and the cognitive sophistication of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]