Open AccessFACTORIAL INVARIANCE OF A BIOGRAPHICAL INVENTORY FOR ADOLESCENTS: A COMPARISON OF LONGITUDINAL AND CROSS‐SECTIONAL RESULTS
Author(s) -
Freeberg Norman E.,
Rock Donald A.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
ets research bulletin series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2333-8504
pISSN - 0424-6144
DOI - 10.1002/j.2333-8504.1970.tb00797.x
Subject(s) - longitudinal sample , psychology , factorial , longitudinal study , sample (material) , measurement invariance , statistics , consistency (knowledge bases) , variance (accounting) , factorial experiment , factor analysis , cross sectional study , developmental psychology , mathematics , structural equation modeling , confirmatory factor analysis , mathematical analysis , chemistry , geometry , accounting , chromatography , business
ABSTRACT Several indices of factorial consistency were applied to a biographical inventory administered to a longitudinal sample of 2070 students in the 7th, 9th and 11th grades. Results were compared with those of a prior cross‐sectional study at the same grade levels. Comparisons of dimensional change over the three grades, for the cross‐sectional and longitudinal sample, showed general similarities in the number of major factors extracted, their designations and the variance accounted for. However, there were marked differences between the samples in their factor intercorrelations and the developmental changes shown in factor “presence.” A transition effect associated with the factor pattern of the 9th grade was found only in the longitudinal sample. The importance of identifying the extent of factorial invariance for measures used in studying patterns of behavioral development is discussed.