Construct Meaning in Multilevel Settings

Laura M. Stapleton, Ji Seung Yang and Gregory R. Hancock
Additional contact information
Gregory R. Hancock: University of Maryland

Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 2016, vol. 41, issue 5, 481-520

Abstract: We present types of constructs, individual- and cluster-level, and their confirmatory factor analytic validation models when data are from individuals nested within clusters. When a construct is theoretically individual level, spurious construct-irrelevant dependency in the data may appear to signal cluster-level dependency; in such cases, however, and consistent with theory, a single-level analysis with a correction for dependency may be appropriate. Regarding cluster-level constructs, we discuss two types—shared and configural—and present appropriate validation models. Illustrative validation analyses with individual, shared, and configural constructs are provided using empirical data as well as simple simulations demonstrating the spurious effects that can occur with nested data. The article concludes with future directions to be examined in construct validation in multilevel settings.

Keywords: multilevel; validity; confirmatory factor analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/1076998616646200 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jedbes:v:41:y:2016:i:5:p:481-520

DOI: 10.3102/1076998616646200

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().