Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), which measures physical symptoms, harm avoidance, social anxiety, and separation/panic. Method: Using a community sample of Australian children (8-13 years old), the internal stability, factor structure, and convergent validity of child-…

Background: Most previous studies in Western societies have demonstrated a general decline in school motivation. However, it is not clear whether motivational decline occurs uniformly for all students. The moderating effects of individual and cultural differences on students' motivational decline need to be further explored. Aims: This study aimed…

In this article, I specify a conceptual framework for test validity research on content assessments taken by English language learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools in grades K-12. This framework is modeled after one previously delineated by Willingham et al. (1988), which was developed to guide research on students with disabilities. In this framework…

This introduction to confirmatory factor analysis presents an overview of its basic concepts and processes. Conventional factor analysis can be described as set of analytic techniques designed to examine the covariance structure of a set of variables and to provide an explanation of the relationships among those variables in terms of a smaller…

A form of Browne's (1967) solution of finding a least squares fit to a specified factor structure is given which does not involve solution of an eigenvalue problem. It suggests the possible existence of a singularity, and a simple modification of Browne's computational procedure is proposed. (Author/RC)

An index of factorial simplicity, employing a quartimax transformational criteria, is developed. This index is both for each row separately and for a factor pattern matrix as a whole. The index varies between zero and one. The problem of calibrating the index is discussed. (Author/RC)

Gives a set of minimally sufficient axioms to define and distinguish common factor theory, image theory, and component theory and analyzes claims that have been made for image theory as a device for improving factor theory. (Author/RC)

Determined the factoral strucuture of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in a clinical sample (N=85) receiving vocational counseling and compared this structure to that reported by Silverstein (1982) for the normative group. Results showed a high rate of consistency with those reported by Silverstein. (LLL)

Examined the internal structure of the Jenkins Activity Survey. Results include identification of five factors, three of which are similar to factors identified in earlier studies, identification of a subset of items that show consistency across studies, and discovery that two scales are essentially the same in their defining items. (Author/BL)

Studied the degree of factor structure invariance of self-concept measurement across ethnic and gender groups using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988. Findings suggest it would be reasonable to consider the factor pattern coefficients and factor variances and covariances as invariant across ethnic and gender groups. (SLD)

Presents a construction method for all factors that satisfy the assumptions of the model for factor analysis, including partially determined factors where certain error variances are zero. Illustrates that variable elimination can have a large effect on the seriousness of factor indeterminacy. (SLD)

A cross-validation method is described for selecting the significant components from a principal components analysis, and properties of the method are discussed. Parallels are drawn with other related methods in covariance structure modeling, and some comparisons among methods are illustrated with two data sets previously analyzed. (SLD)

Some problems of multiple-group factor rotation based on the parallel proportional profiles and confactor rotation of R. B. Cattell are described, and several alternative modeling solutions are proposed. Benefits and limitations of the structural-modeling approach to oblique confactor resolution are examined, and opportunities for research are…

Examined whether delayed recall factor could be found by substituting percent retained (saving) scores for existing Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) delayed recall subtests scores. Principal component analyses of age-corrected WMS-R immediate and save scores in mixed clinical sample (n=168) failed to find hypothesized save factor. (Author/NB)