scholarly journals Comparing alignment and multiple group CFA for analysing political trust in europe during the crisis

Methodology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lluís Coromina ◽  
Edurne Bartolomé Peral

Institutional trust is in decline in many western democracies. Since the 2008 global economic and financial crisis, this increasing distrust has been closely related to trust in political institutions. Trust in institutions is one of the pillars of democracy, and its decline is one of the most evident and shared symptoms of the recession, especially in those contexts where it has been particularly acute. This article has both substantive and methodological aims. From a substantive point of view, it deals with trust in political institutions in Europe, and its decline during the recession. Differences are found among European countries, depending on the severity of the economic crisis. From a methodological point of view, the article compares two methodologies for cross-cultural analyses: the more traditional Multiple-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and the newer Alignment method. Recommendations for the use of the newer method in certain circumstances are provided.

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1693-1723
Author(s):  
Scott Gates ◽  
Mogens K. Justesen

How does armed conflict affect accountability and political trust in democratic governments? To answer this question, we present quasi-experimental evidence based on survey data which, coincidentally, were collected in the days surrounding an unanticipated violent attack by a rebel group in Mali. The chance occurrence of the attack five days into the survey demarcates respondents into two groups surveyed before and after the attack and allows us to examine how the attack affected approval of politicians and trust in political institutions. Our results show that people mainly attribute responsibility to the president and not to parliament or local government, while trust in institutions is largely unaffected. We also show that these effects are strongest in the region of the attack. These findings suggest that voters in new democracies are capable of attributing responsibility to individual politicians and governments while maintaining trust in the fundamental political institutions of democracy.


Author(s):  
Diana Rivera-Ottenberger ◽  
Mónica Guzmán-González ◽  
Carlos Calderón ◽  
Sagrario Yárnoz-Yaben ◽  
Priscila Comino

(1) Background: Current research on the factors involved in the adaptation process to divorce or separation has explored cross-cultural differences. An initial step in the cross-cultural field is to investigate whether the measurements applied are comparable in different cultural contexts. The aim of the present study is to test the measurement invariance of the Questionnaire of Forgiveness in Divorce-Separation (CPD-S); (2) Methods: The CPD-S was completed by 556 (M = 44.52, SD = 10.18) and 240 (M = 41.44, SD = 7.87) Chilean and Spanish divorced individuals, respectively. Confirmatory factor analyses in single samples and measurement invariance testing in a multi-group framework were conducted to test the cross-group equivalence; (3) Results: The single-factor structure of the CPD-S was supported in both countries. Measurement invariance analysis demonstrated that the CPD-S had partial scalar measurement invariance; (4) Conclusions: The evidence supports the conclusion that CPD-S operates similarly across both countries. Findings are discussed from a cross-cultural and methodological perspective.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roosevelt Vilar

Abstract. The present paper tests the structure and invariance of the Functional Theory of Human Values across 20 countries (N = 21,362). This theory proposes that values have the functions of guiding behaviour and expressing needs. The interplay between these two functions produces six subfunctions that in turn produce distinct content. These subfunctions are operationalised in the Basic Values Survey with three items each, forming an 18-item measure. Although this measure has been used for more than two decades, studies examining its psychometric properties in multiple-group data are scarce. Using multidimensional scaling (MDS), it was found that values were organised in a bidimensional space according to the hypothesised degree of congruence between subfunctions. Also, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with a Bayes estimator and approximate zero cross-loadings and residual correlations supported the six-factor structure. A strict CFA with Robust-ML estimator did not support the model. Metric invariance was supported for all the items, except religiosity, using the alignment method and approximate Bayesian invariance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Pfitzner-Eden ◽  
Felicitas Thiel ◽  
Jenny Horsley

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) is an important construct in the prediction of positive student and teacher outcomes. However, problems with its measurement have persisted, often through confounding TSE with other constructs. This research introduces an adapted TSE instrument for preservice teachers, which is closely aligned with self-efficacy experts' recommendations for measuring self-efficacy, and based on a widely used measure of TSE. We provide first evidence of construct validity for this instrument. Participants were 851 preservice teachers in three samples from Germany and New Zealand. Results of the multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses showed a uniform 3-factor solution for all samples, metric measurement invariance, and a consistent and moderate correlation between TSE and a measure of general self-efficacy across all samples. Despite limitations to this study, there is some first evidence that this measure allows for a valid 3-dimensional assessment of TSE in preservice teachers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gino Casale ◽  
Robert J. Volpe ◽  
Brian Daniels ◽  
Thomas Hennemann ◽  
Amy M. Briesch ◽  
...  

Abstract. The current study examines the item and scalar equivalence of an abbreviated school-based universal screener that was cross-culturally translated and adapted from English into German. The instrument was designed to assess student behavior problems that impact classroom learning. Participants were 1,346 K-6 grade students from the US (n = 390, Mage = 9.23, 38.5% female) and Germany (n = 956, Mage = 8.04, 40.1% female). Measurement invariance was tested by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) across students from the US and Germany. Results support full scalar invariance between students from the US and Germany (df = 266, χ2 = 790.141, Δχ2 = 6.9, p < .001, CFI = 0.976, ΔCFI = 0.000, RMSEA = 0.052, ΔRMSEA = −0.003) indicating that the factor structure, the factor loadings, and the item thresholds are comparable across samples. This finding implies that a full cross-cultural comparison including latent factor means and structural coefficients between the US and the German version of the abbreviated screener is possible. Therefore, the tool can be used in German schools as well as for cross-cultural research purposes between the US and Germany.


2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Deković ◽  
Margreet ten Have ◽  
Wilma A.M. Vollebergh ◽  
Trees Pels ◽  
Annerieke Oosterwegel ◽  
...  

We examined the cross-cultural equivalence of a widely used instrument that assesses perceived parental rearing, the EMBU-C, among native Dutch and immigrant adolescents living in The Netherlands. The results of a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the factor structure of the EMBU-C, consisting of three latent factors (Warmth, Rejection, and Overprotection), and reliabilities of these scales are similar in both samples. These findings lend further support for the factorial and construct validity of this instrument. The comparison of perceived child rearing between native Dutch and immigrant adolescents showed cultural differences in only one of the assessed dimensions: Immigrant adolescents perceive their parents as more overprotective than do Dutch adolescents.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110360
Author(s):  
Qingsong Tan ◽  
Jilin Zou ◽  
Feng Kong

The 5-item Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-5) is one of the most commonly used instruments to measure dispositional gratitude in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to verify the longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI) and gender measurement invariance (GMI) of the GQ-5 that was administered to an adolescent sample twice over the course of 18 months ( N = 669). Single-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was adopted to examine the LMI and multiple-group CFA was conducted to assess the GMI. The results showed that the GQ-5 had strong invariance (i.e., equality of factor patterns, loadings, and intercepts) across time and gender. Validation of latent factor mean differences showed that females had higher gratitude scores than males. In addition, the GQ-5 exhibited good internal consistency indices across time and a moderate stability coefficient was also found across an 18-month time interval in adolescents. In summary, our study showed that LMI and GMI of the GQ-5 are satisfactory and the GQ-5 is a reliable instrument for measuring gratitude in adolescents.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110051
Author(s):  
Cecilia Brando-Garrido ◽  
Javier Montes-Hidalgo ◽  
Joaquín T. Limonero ◽  
María J. Gómez-Romero ◽  
Joaquín Tomás-Sábado

A recent line of research concerns bedtime procrastination, its effects on sleep quality and duration, and the associated repercussions for health and wellbeing. The Bedtime Procrastination Scale is a brief, self-report instrument developed by Kroese et al. with the aim of evaluating this behavior and exploring its association with insufficient sleep, and hence with health. The aim was to develop and validate a Spanish version of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS-Sp) and to examine the relationship between bedtime procrastination and both general procrastination and self-control. The original BPS was translated from English into Spanish in accordance with international guidelines on the cross-cultural adaptation of measurement instruments. The sample for the validation study comprised 177 nursing students who completed a questionnaire requesting demographic data and which included the following instruments: the newly developed BPS-Sp, the Tuckman Procrastination Scale, and the Brief Self-Control Scale. Statistical analysis involved tests of normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), reliability (Cronbach’s alpha, test-retest), construct validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. Scores on the BPS-Sp showed excellent internal consistency (α = .83) and temporal stability (test-retest r = .84), as well as significant correlations with general procrastination ( r = .26; p < .01) and self-control ( r = −.17; p < .05). Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the single-factor solution proposed by Kroese et al. The results suggest that the BPS-Sp is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing bedtime procrastination in the Spanish-speaking population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Y. T. Fong ◽  
Janet Y. H. Wong ◽  
Edmond P. H. Choi ◽  
K. F. Lam ◽  
C. Kwok

Abstract Background The Short Form 12-item Health Survey (SF-12v2) was originally developed in English, but it is also available in Hong Kong (HK) Chinese. While both language versions had their measurement properties well assessed in their respective populations, their measurement invariance in scores has not been examined. Therefore, we aimed to assess their measurement invariance. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study on individuals aged 18 years or older at a university campus. Those who were bilingual in English and Chinese were randomly assigned to self-complete either the standard English or the HK Chinese SF-12v2. Measurement invariance of the two components and eight scales of the SF-12v2 was concluded if the corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI) for the difference between the two language versions entirely fell within the minimal clinically important difference of ± 3 units. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was also performed. Results A total of 1013 participants completed the SF-12v2 (496 in English and 517 in HK Chinese), with a mean age of 22 years (Range 18–58), and 626 participants (62%) were female. There were no significant differences in demographics. Only the physical and mental components and the mental health (MH) scale had their 90% CIs (0.21 to 1.61, − 1.00 to 0.98, and − 0.86 to 2.84, respectively) completely fall within the ± 3 units. The multiple-group CFA showed partial strict invariance. Conclusions The English and HK Chinese versions of the SF-12v2 can be used in studies with their two components and MH scores pooled in the analysis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003232172098089
Author(s):  
Chiara Superti ◽  
Noam Gidron

Scholars have argued that immigrants’ trust in institutions is the result of the exposure to host-country institutions but also shaped by past experiences in the country of origin. These experiences create a “home-country point of reference,” a political/institutional memory that becomes the relevant comparison for any political/institutional interaction in the host country. We develop further this concept and unpack its key determinants—the age at migration and the historical conditions of the home country at the specific time of migration. Only those immigrants who were too old to forget the historical and contextual features of the country-of-origin institutions at the time of migration will rely on this comparison when interacting with institutions in the host country. Across time, there is both a continuous positive/negative accumulation of trust for the host-country institutions among those with less/more democratic points of reference. We examine immigrants’ political trust using survey evidence from Israel.


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