Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Latent Construct (latent + construct)
Selected AbstractsA developmental test of the general deviance syndrome with adjudicated girls and boys using hierarchical confirmatory factor analysisCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2003Marc Le Blanc PhD (Criminology) Background Over the last 40 years, numerous studies have proposed that various deviant behaviours are part of a latent construct now labelled ,general deviance' by criminologists or ,problem behaviour' by psychologists. During that period, many studies have documented the presence of specific forms of deviance. However, no study has tested these two opposing views simultaneously, particularly with longitudinal data. Aims The objectives of this paper are the cross-cultural replication of the construct of general deviance for a French-speaking adjudicated sample of girls and boys and, specifically, the developmental replication of the general deviance syndrome. Method The age of onset is used as a developmental indicator of deviance instead of measures of participation or frequency. Results The results of EQS hierarchical confirmatory factor analyses supported the existence of the construct of general deviance. In addition, there is no gender gap in the structure of the general deviance syndrome. This paper reports a comprehensive test of the general deviance syndrome because of the use of 45 deviant behaviours and nine types of deviance classified into four categories. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Association of tobacco dependence and quit attempt duration with Rasch-modeled withdrawal sensitivity using retrospective measuresADDICTION, Issue 6 2009Harold S. Javitz ABSTRACT Aim To examine whether Rasch modeling would yield a unidimensional withdrawal sensitivity measure correlating with factors associated with successful smoking cessation. Design The psychometric Rasch modeling approach was applied to estimate an underlying latent construct (withdrawal sensitivity) in retrospective responses from 1644 smokers who reported quitting for 3 or more months at least once. Setting Web-based, passcode-controlled self-administered computerized questionnaire. Participants Randomly selected convenience sample of 1644 adult members of an e-mail invitation-only web panel drawn from consumer databases. Measurements Lifetime Tobacco Use Questionnaire, assessing tobacco use across the life-span, including demographics and respondent ratings of the severity of withdrawal symptoms experienced in respondents' first and most recent quit attempts lasting 3 or more months. Findings Rasch-modeled withdrawal sensitivity was generally unidimensional and was associated with longer periods of smoking cessation. One latent variable accounted for 74% of the variability in symptom scores. Rasch modeling with a single latent factor fitted withdrawal symptoms well, except for increased appetite, for which the fit was marginal. Demographic variables of education, gender and ethnicity were not related to changes in sensitivity. Correlates of greater withdrawal sensitivity in cessation attempts of at least 3 months included younger age at first quit attempt and indicators of tobacco dependence. Conclusion The relationship between tobacco dependence symptoms and Rasch-model withdrawal sensitivity defines further the relationship between sensitivity and dependence. The findings demonstrate the utility of modeling to create an individual-specific sensitivity measure as a tool for exploring the relationships among sensitivity, dependence and cessation. [source] Differences between peer victimization in cyber and physical settings and associated psychosocial adjustment in early adolescencePSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 10 2009Allison G. Dempsey The increasing use of cyberspace as a social networking forum creates a new medium for youth to become victims of peer aggression. This study used factor analysis techniques to confirm whether survey questions about frequency of cyber victimization formed a distinct latent construct from questions about relational and overt victimization information in a large (N = 1,665) sample of middle school students. A secondary goal was to relate experiences of cyber victimization to symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Results indicate that cyber victimization is separate latent factor from overt and relational victimization. Experiences of cyber victimization were weakly associated with symptoms of social anxiety, but not depression. These results signify that cyber victimization deserves future empirical and clinical attention. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Child Behavior Checklist Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-JBD) and CBCL Posttraumatic Stress Problems (CBCL-PTSP) scales are measures of a single dysregulatory syndromeTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 10 2009Lynsay Ayer Background:, The Child Behavior Checklist Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-JBD) profile and Posttraumatic Stress Problems (CBCL-PTSP) scale have been used to assess juvenile bipolar disorder (JBD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. However, their validity is questionable according to previous research. Both measures are associated with severe psychopathology often encompassing multiple DSM-IV diagnoses. Further, children who score highly on one of these scales often have elevated scores on the other, independent of PTSD or JBD diagnoses. We hypothesized that the two scales may be indicators of a single syndrome related to dysregulated mood, attention, and behavior. We aimed to describe and identify the overlap between the CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scales. Method:, Two thousand and twenty-nine (2029) children from a nationally representative sample (1073 boys, 956 girls; mean age = 11.98; age range = 6,18) were rated on emotional and behavior problems by their parents using the CBCL. Comparative model testing via structural equation modeling was conducted to determine whether the CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scale are best described as measuring separate versus unitary constructs. Associations with suicidality and competency scores were also examined. Results:, The CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP demonstrated a high degree of overlap (r = .89) at the latent variable level. The best fitting, most parsimonious model was one in which the CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP items identified a single latent construct, which was associated with higher parental endorsement of child suicidal behavior, and lower functioning. Conclusions:, The CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scale overlap to a remarkable degree, and may be best described as measures of a single syndrome. This syndrome appears to be related to severe psychopathology, but may not conform to traditional DSM-IV classification. These results contribute to the ongoing debate about the utility of the CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP profiles, and offer promising methods of empirically based measurement of disordered self-regulation in youth. [source] Factorial Invariance Within Longitudinal Structural Equation Models: Measuring the Same Construct Across TimeCHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2010Keith F. Widaman Abstract, Charting change in behavior as a function of age and investigating longitudinal relations among constructs are primary goals of developmental research. Traditionally, researchers rely on a single measure (e.g., scale score) for a given construct for each person at each occasion of measurement, assuming that measure reflects the same construct at each occasion. With multiple indicators of a latent construct at each time of measurement, the researcher can evaluate whether factorial invariance holds. If factorial invariance constraints are satisfied, latent variable scores at each time of measurement are on the same metric and stronger conclusions are warranted. This article discusses factorial invariance in longitudinal studies, contrasting analytic approaches and highlighting strengths of the multiple-indicator approach to modeling developmental processes. [source] Adult attachment dimensions and recollections of childhood family context: associations with dispositional optimism and pessimismEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 3 2004Kati Heinonen The present study tested the theoretically inferred but not yet empirically tested association between dispositional optimism,pessimism and attachment security among 423 Finnish women and men. A second-order latent variable representing a generalized representation of attachment insecurity in close relationships that included two latent constructs, the one representing romantic adult attachment dimensions and the other representing recollections of attachment-related childhood family relationship, was associated with greater pessimism; the adult attachment dimension of high anxiety had unique and additional explanatory power, not accounted for by the generalized representation of attachment-related insecurity. The model explained 48% of the variance in pessimism. The results clearly emphasize that additional studies are needed to clarify the role of interpersonal processes in dispositional optimism,pessimism. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Perspectives of fathers and mothers of children in early intervention programmes in assessing family quality of lifeJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2006M. Wang Abstract Background Family quality of life (FQOL), as a family outcome measure of early intervention and other services, has increasingly drawn attention of researchers, policymakers and service providers. Developing an index of family QOL requires a measure suitable for use with multiple family members. The purpose of this study was to test whether mothers and fathers similarly view the conceptual model of FQOL embodied in one measure. Method This study involved fathers and mothers of 107 families who have a young child (birth to five) with a disability enrolled in an early intervention programme. Data from couples completing the Beach Center FQOL measure were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to determine similarities or differences between fathers and mothers with respect to their assessment of FQOL. Results The analysis of measurement invariance of the FQOL construct across the father and mother groups indicates that the Beach Center FQOL Scale measures equally the underlying FQOL construct across fathers and mothers in this sample. Fathers do not differ from mothers in perceived importance of factors related to FQOL items, nor did they differ in their overall satisfaction with FQOL. Conclusion These results suggest that fathers and mothers respond similarly to the latent constructs within the Beach Center FQOL Scale; therefore, it holds promise for use with both fathers and mothers in assessing FQOL across multiple family members. Further implications for research and practice are discussed. [source] EXPLORING RELATIONS BETWEEN TYPICAL AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE RATINGS AND THE FIVE FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITYPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001ROBERT E. PLOYHART The study tests the distinction between typical and maximum criteria with ratings of transformational leadership performance, and examines whether the criterion-related validities of the five factor model differ for the two types of criteria. Using an East Asian military sample (n= 1,259) where multiple ratings of typical and maximum performance were obtained from different sources, we used structural equation modeling to test the typical/maximum performance distinction. Results found that typical and maximum performance are different latent constructs and that this distinction is present even after considering rating method factors (i.e., rater source, time). The importance of this distinction is shown by the fact that validities for the personality constructs were not equally predictive of both criteria: Openness was most predictive of maximum performance, Neuroticism was most predictive of typical performance, and Extroversion was predictive of both. By distinguishing typical from maximum performance constructs, relationships between personality and transformational leadership were found to be stronger than previous research suggested. [source] A metric for corporate environmental indicators , for small and medium enterprises in the PhilippinesBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 1 2009Purba Rao Abstract This paper is an outcome of the empirical research, funded by UNDP Philippines and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), done to establish and implement a metric of corporate environmental indicators for SMEs in the Philippines. SMEs have always played a vital role in the creation of goods and services in the country. It is therefore imperative that SMEs adhere to safe environment practices so that the greening of industries in this region is consummate. In this research we have considered SMEs operating in the food and beverage, furniture, fashion accessories, hotel and restaurant, automotive parts and electroplating sectors. The metric adopted in this research follows the framework given by the Federal Environmental Ministry in Bonn and the Federal Environmental Agency in Berlin. ,,The empirical approach develops an exploratory analysis and a structural equation model to bring out statistically significant linkages between five latent constructs: environment management indicators, environment performance indicators, environmental performance, business performance and competitiveness. The research hopes to urge SMEs to implement this metric with confidence given that this would not only enhance their environmental performance but also lead to superior business performance and enhanced competitiveness. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] | ||||||||||||||||