Measurement Invariance and Construct Validity of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in Community Volunteers in Vietnam

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the English Version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) for Non-Native English Speakers

This cross-cultural study seeks to (a) investigate the internal structure of the English version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) when administered to non-native English speakers (i.e., Asian individuals and (b) test for measurement invariance with its Italian counterpart). The whole sample comprises 338 participants, including 167 Asian international university students residing in the United States (50.3% females; Mage = 23.82, SD = 3.78) and 171 Italian university students living in Italy (69.6% females; Mage = 22.38, SD = 4.24). The dimensionality of the scale is assessed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) is employed to examine measurement invariance. The results confirm the one-dimensionality of the SWLS [χ2 = 9.815; df = 5; CFI = 0.989; TLI = 0.977; SRMR = 0.027]. Furthermore, achieving full strict invariance indicates that the SWLS items exhibit similar structures across both samples. The scale shows satisfactory internal reliability (α = 0.863, ω = 0.866). Overall, this study supports the cross-validity of the English version of the SWLS and underscores its robustness and suitability for assessing life satisfaction among non-native English speakers.

A Network Analysis Study on the Structure and Gender Invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale among Spanish University Students

INTRODUCTION

The psychometric properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) have been evaluated across numerous languages and population groups, primarily from a factor analysis perspective. In some studies, inconsistencies in structural invariance have been identified.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the properties and gender invariance of the SWLS from a network analysis perspective.

METHOD

A total of 857 Spanish university students were obtained through a stratified random cluster sampling method in a cross-sectional survey design study. Descriptive analysis of the items, partial-correlation network, Bayesian network model estimation, and invariance analysis by gender were conducted.

RESULTS

The instrument did not exhibit any floor or ceiling effects. Each item can be considered univariately normally distributed, and all items clustered in a single and stable community. The partial-correlation network model and centrality measures were stable in the full sample and invariant across genders. Item 3 emerged as the most central node in the network with the highest predictability. The Bayesian network indicated that items 2 and 4 initiate the process, while item 5 acts as the sink, and items 1 and 3 act as mediators.

CONCLUSIONS

The SWLS can be used as a unidimensional measure, and the total score and relationships among items are stable and reliable. Any potential differences among genders cannot be associated with the functioning of the instrument. The predictability of every item was high, and the Bayesian network clearly identified different roles among the items.

Assessing measurement invariance of the SEGUE framework among Chinese and Ghanaian patients: A cross-sectional study

Objective

Measurement invariance assesses the psychometric equivalence of a construct across groups or across time. This study aimed to find out whether the newly modified 5-point Likert scale SEGUE Framework for evaluating doctor's communication skills demonstrates measurement invariance among Chinese and Ghanaian patients.

Methods

Measurement invariance tests were conducted using two samples collected from the two cultures respectively (China: N = 598 and Ghana: N = 591). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test for the factor structure. Multiple-group CFA was used to test the measurement invariance of the SEGUE between the two samples.

Results

The same five-factor model showed acceptable model fit in both Chinese and Ghanaian samples. Cross-cultural measurement invariance tests revealed that scalar invariance was observed across the two samples.

Conclusion

Cross-cultural adaptations of instruments should exhibit measurement invariance to ensure that measures are interpreted and used consistently. Findings of our study suggest that the SEGUE Framework is invariant across the two cultures, which increases confidence in data collection and comparison.

Innovation

This is the first study to establish measurement invariance among Chinese and Ghanaians using the SEGUE Framework which assesses doctors' communication from patients' perspectives.

What cultural values determine student self-efficacy? An empirical study for 42 countries and economies

Self-efficacy is a vital personal characteristic for student success. However, the challenge of cross-cultural comparisons remains as scalar invariance is hard to be satisfied. Also, it is unclear how to contextually understand student self-efficacy in light of cultural values in different countries. This study implements a novel alignment optimization method to rank the latent means of student self-efficacy of 308,849 students in 11,574 schools across 42 countries and economies that participated in the 2018 Program in International Student Assessment. We then used classification and regression trees to classified countries with differential latent means of student self-efficacy into groups according to Hofstede's six cultural dimensions theory. The results of the alignment method recovered that Albania, Colombia, and Peru had students with the highest mean self-efficacy, while Slovak Republic, Moscow Region (RUS), and Lebanon had the lowest. Moreover, the CART analysis indicated a low student self-efficacy for countries presenting three features: (1) extremely high power distance; (2) restraint; and (3) collectivism. These findings theoretically highlighted the significance of cultural values in shaping student self-efficacy across countries and practically provided concrete suggestions to educators on which countries to emulate such that student self-efficacy could be promoted and informed educators in secondary education institutes on the international expansion of academic exchanges.

Research skills for university students' thesis in E-learning: Scale development and validation in Peru

Background

The aims of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and to characteristics of a scale on research skills as well as to characterize the experience of university thesis students using information databases (i.e., Scopus or Web of Science) and bibliographic reference managers.

Methods

A sample of 1598 university students from five departments, acroos the different campuses of one Peruvian university. The psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated using factor analysis and measurement invariance according to sex and age groups. In addition, an internal consistency analysis was conducted for scale reliability using Cronbach's alpha, ordinal alpha, and the omega index.

Results

Our study identified that the unidimensional model with correlated errors showed adequate indicators of reliability and goodness of fit, with the exception of the RMSEA, which shows values higher than 0.08. Measurement invariance by sex and age group was present. The majority of university students in E-learning showed use of the bibliographic manager Mendeley (52.13%), low ability to use information databases such as Scopus (22.24%) or Web of Science (17.26%), and the least skilled research skills were in formulating the problem, objectives, and hypotheses (51.63%) and carrying out data analysis and processing using statistical techniques (49.37%).

Conclusions

The conclusions of the study were that the 8-item research skills instrument presents acceptable psychometric indicators in Peruvian university students in thesis courses. Likewise, a scarce use of global databases, the approach to the research topic, and carrying out its statistical processing.