Invariant Analysis Research Articles

Motivation to lead in Japan: validation of a Japanese version of the motivation to lead scale.

This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the motivation to lead (MTL) scale consisting of three factors-affective-identity MTL, non-calculative MTL, and social-normative MTL-and examine its construct validity and reliability. The participants comprised 500 university students and 500 employees aged 20-29 years registered with a Japanese research company. Based on a confirmatory factor analysis, the three-factor model was found to be appropriate for the Japanese context. The measurement invariance analyses indicated scalar invariance between students and employees and between men and women. Finally, the correlation analysis with the Big Five personality traits conducted to examine construct validity indicated that affective-identity MTL and social-normative MTL had significant relationships with all five traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, open-mindedness, and negative emotionality). Although non-calculative MTL was not significantly correlated, it can be interpreted in the Japanese context. The results indicate the adequate construct validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the MTL scale. These findings hold significant implications for leadership development and selection in Japan, highlighting the motivational factors that drive effective leadership.

Abandoned vs. regenerated places: Evidence of five social impacts that improve urban planning

One of the under-researched issues in relation to urban restoration of abandonments is the impact they have on society and the well-being of the population. In this research we analyzed five socio-environmental impacts associated with urban regeneration plans. A total of 1265 individuals participated in this study; 621 resided near an unregenerate derelict site and the other 644 were around a site that was formerly abandoned and urbanistically restored. Structural equation models based on invariance analysis and latent mean analysis were used to control for response bias in the social perception of five impacts: place identity, place dependence, run-down perception, unsafe perception, and environmental stress. Counter intuitive results were obtained in relation to the sense of place: the abandoned site had higher levels of place identity and place dependence than the urbanistically regenerated place. The probability that abandoned places had higher levels of sense of place than regenerated places was close to 98 %. Nevertheless, we obtained statistical evidence that urban regeneration promoted reductions in residents' stress levels and improved run-down perception. We discuss the implications of sense of place for regeneration plans and offer new urban planning strategies according to the analyzed impacts.

Psychometric properties and gender invariance of the 8-item emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ-8) among Chinese university students.

To assess emotion regulation strategies in a clear and direct manner, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was developed based on the process model of emotion regulation. ERQ primarily assesses an individual's propensity for reappraisal (a cognitive change in the individual's psychological state in specific situations) and expressive suppression (a regulatory response where an individual alters their emotional response after the onset of an emotional reaction). Recent studies have suggested that the abbreviated 8-item version of the ERQ exhibits comparable model fit to the original version. The present study aimed to explore the psychometric properties and assess cross-gender invariance of the ERQ-8 in Chinese university students. University students from Jiangsu Province participated in this study. Participants completed self-report surveys assessing emotion regulation strategies. It was conducted from May 2022 to July 2022. The study employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the two-factor model of ERQ-8 and measurement invariance across male and female samples. The mean age of 1534 participants was 19.83 years (SD = 1.54), and the majority were female (70.4%). The initial ERQ-10 model with ten items demonstrated good fit for all indicators, CFI (Comparative Fit index) = 0.967, TLI (Tucker-Lewis Index) = 0.957, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) = 0.043, SRMR (Standardised Root Mean Square Residual) = 0.029. However, to assess the fit of the previously proposed ERQ-8 model, two items (Q1 and Q3) were excluded. The fit of the ERQ-8 model was further improved (CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.029, SRMR = 0.021). All item loadings exceeded or were equal to 0.573. Internal consistency analysis based on the ERQ-8 model revealed Cronbach's alpha values of 0.840 for reappraisal and 0.745 for suppression, and corresponding composite reliability (CR) values of 0.846 and 0.747, respectively. Test-retest reliability, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (95% CI) within a one-week interval, ranged from 0.537 to 0.679. The correlation coefficient between the two factors was 0.084, significantly below 0.85, which suggested a low correlation between the two factors. The results of the invariance analysis across gender demonstrated that the values of ΔCFI and ΔTLI were both below 0.01. It was supported the gender invariance of the ERQ-8 among university students. The eight-item ERQ demonstrated validity and reliability in evaluating emotion regulation strategies, and measurement invariance was observed across gender among university students. The ERQ-8 may prove to be a practical and cost-effective tool, particularly in time-constrained situations.

Paternidade com Filhos entre 2 e 10 Anos de Idade: Propriedades Psicométricas do IFI-BR-27

Abstract: The Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI) was developed to examine paternal involvement among men with children from 5 to 10 years of age. However, father involvement affects child development starting in the child’s infancy. In Brazil, a revised version of the instrument (called the IFI-BR-27) was developed to use with fathers of children in a wider age group (2 to 10 years). Thus, in this study we aimed to investigate evidence for validity of this revised version based on internal structure, measurement invariance, and evidence of convergent validity. For this purpose, 572 Brazilian fathers completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the IFI-BR-27, and either the Father Engagement Questionnaire (FEQ; for fathers of children in early childhood education settings) or the Inventory of Parenting Practices (IPP; for fathers of children in elementary school). Results of confirmatory factor analyses indicated the plausibility of a second-order internal structure for the IFI-BR-27 (χ 2 / df = 3.526; CFI = .937; TLI = .929; RMSEA = .066). Composite reliability for the nine factors varied from .65 to .84. Invariance analyses indicated that the structure is independent of the child’s educational setting. Evidence of convergent validity was also found ( r = .67 – FEQ; r = .58 – IPP). Therefore, the IFI-BR-27 is an adequate tool to assess the quality of father involvement for fathers of children in preschool or elementary school. The IFI-BR-27 can contribute to further scientific research, aiding in longitudinal studies, as well as helping professionals to evaluate and encourage specific dimensions of father involvement.

Invariance analysis across industry sub-groups using the end user computing satisfaction instrument

Invariance analysis across industry sub-groups using the end user computing satisfaction instrument

Extended Brauer analysis of some Dynkin and Euclidean diagrams

<p>The analysis of algebraic invariants of algebras induced by appropriated multiset systems called Brauer configurations is a Brauer analysis of the data defining the multisets. Giving a complete description of such algebraic invariants (e.g., giving a closed formula for the dimensions of algebras induced by significant classes of Brauer configurations) is generally a tricky problem. Ringel previously proposed an analysis of this type in the case of Dynkin algebras, for which so-called Dynkin functions were used to study the numerical behavior of invariants associated with such algebras. This paper introduces two additional tools (the entropy and the covering graph of a Brauer configuration) for Brauer analysis, which is applied to Dynkin and Euclidean diagrams to define Dynkin functions associated with Brauer configuration algebras. Properties of graph entropies defined by the corresponding covering graphs are given to establish relationships between the theory of Dynkin functions, the Brauer configuration algebras theory, and the topological content information theory.</p>

General Attitude Scale for Social Media Influencers

This study aims to develop and validate a scale measuring consumers’ attitudes towards social media influencers (SMIs). In this sense, the study population consisted of social media users who followed at least one social media influencer. The survey method was used as the data collection tool in the study. While creating the scale items, relevant literature as well as expressions and some sentences obtained from short interviews with consumers who use social media and follow at least one social media influencer were used. As part of the research, 821 surveys were accepted as valid and evaluated. After pretesting studies on a group of 258 people, the scale was retested with a new sample of 821 people. The skewness and kurtosis values were between +1.96 and -1.96. The sample had a normal distribution. The EFA analysis revealed that the scale item distribution was compatible with the pretest analysis. Although no random distribution was found with parallel analysis, Kaiser–Guttman analysis was also performed to control the distribution of random scales into their subdimensions. The EFA results showed that the developed scale provided appropriate values. KMO=0.896, Bartlett’s sphericity test=0.000, Bartlett’s<0.05, Cronbach’s alpha=0.889, AVE=0.585, and CR=0.934. As a result of CFA, the values for the goodness of fit were found to be appropriate (x2 (df)=3.144; p=0.000, RMSEA=0.051; CFI=0.994; GFI=0.990; SRMR=0.014; AVE=0.580; CR=0.933), and it was observed that there were no items below the factor value of 0.50. As a result of the invariance analysis, it was understood that the developed scale had invariance properties and was suitable for use with a large audience, as the ∆CFI value was less than 0.01 between both samples. The General Attitudes Scale towards social media influencers has a single factor and consists of six items. The factor loading values of the scale items ranged between 0.53 and 0.90. In this research, it was determined that social media influencers had a significant impact on the participants. The general attitudes of the participants as part of the study had a significant effect on their social media influencers.

Psychometrické vlastnosti Dotazníka agresivity Bussa a Perryho (BPAQ)

The primary objective of this research is to assess the psychometric properties of the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Comprising twenty-nine items, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 922 students aged between 14 and 22 years (74,0% of the respondents were female). Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to scrutinize the questionnaire, utilizing fit indices for assessment. Results indicate that the data sufficiently support the proposed model. Upon exclusion of item BPAQ4, the four-factor structure of the Slovak version of the questionnaire was corroborated: ?2 (343) = 922,118; p < 0,001; RMSEA = 0,043 (90% CI 0,039–0,046); CFI = 0,970 and TLI = 0,967. Further examination through measurement invariance analyses revealed equivalence in factor structure and factor loadings between male and female participants. Reliability assessment of the tool, as measured by coefficients ? and ?, demonstrated satisfactory to high levels, with individual subscales ranging from ? = 0,676 to ? = 0,800, and from ? = 0,671 to ? = 0,780, respectively.

The Depressive Tendency Questionnaire for Chinese Middle School Students: Development and Initial Validation.

Depressive tendency refers to the early stage of the onset of depression disorder, which can also have a negative impact on individuals' quality of life. However, there are many numerous depression-related scales that are primarily used to evaluate depression disorders with relatively severe symptom severity. And considering the characteristics of the Chinese cultural background, relatively few corresponding scales are currently developed. This study aimed to develop and validate a depressive tendency questionnaire for Chinese middle school students, based on the psychological structure of depressive tendency in the context of Chinese culture. The initial version of the questionnaire was developed through literature reviews, open surveys, and in-depth interviews. The questionnaire was revised based on the predictions made from 865 middle school students (M=15.84, SD=1.50). Finally, the formal questionnaire was developed through valid administration to 1205 students (M=15.63, SD=1.82), using confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, and validity testing, as well as measurement invariance analysis. The questionnaire consisted of 30 items, including negative self, cognitive function, personal reserve, and social support. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire fitted the data with well construct validity. Measurement invariance indicates no gender and grade differences in the questionnaire scores. The questionnaire demonstrates good reliability and validity, meeting the requirements of psychometrics. From a theoretical point of view, we clarified the psychological structure of depressive tendencies among Chinese middle school students, providing a theoretical and empirical basis for subsequent related research. From a practical point of view, the formal questionnaire plays a positive role in the smooth development of mental health counseling, education, and other work in middle schools.

Psychometric properties of the emotional regulation questionnaire in a Colombian sample

Introduction: The Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is implemented to evaluate two typical emotion management strategies (reappraisal and suppression). This instrument has shown to present sufficient validity and reliability with different populations. However, up to now in Colombia, an exhaustive analysis of the psychometric properties of said instrument, which includes factorial invariance, has not been carried out. Method: A psychometric study was carried out with a sample of 1,500 adults (749 women), belonging to different regions of Colombia, by way of an online form. The analysis of the information was carried out with the methodological assumptions of the Classical Test Theory, including a factorial invariance analysis. Results: The ERQ items explain 55.72% of the variance; it is identified, according to a confirmatory structural equations model, that the complete scale works according to the original scale and others translated in the Latin American context. In the same way, it is determined that the ERQ complies with the factorial invariance assumptions (except according to age) and presents adequate levels of internal consistency. Discussion: The ERQ is a useful instrument for discriminating people’s ability to regulate their emotions in the face of demands posed by the social context in which they interact. A subsequent study is suggested for the establishment of scales according to age groups.

Assessing experiences with discrimination in multiple social groups: invariance analysis of the Explicit Discrimination Scale in university students

This study evaluated the ability of the Explicit Discrimination Scale (EDS) to produce comparable estimates among respondents according to gender, color/race, and socioeconomic status. Analysis was based on data from two studies with students from Brazilian public universities. An abridged version of the EDS with eight items was evaluated by the alignment method. Findings indicated violation of invariance between color/race and gender groups. Reports of discriminatory experiences had better comparability between socioeconomic status strata. This study showed that EDS should be used with caution, especially to compare discrimination estimates between respondents of different colors/races and genders. The observed violation of invariance reinforces the need for additional research examining whether such a scenario persists in larger and more diverse samples from Brazil.

Mechanical Automation Design and Manufacturing of Production Equipment Combined with Artificial Intelligence Technology and Algorithm Implementation

Abstract This paper explores the impact of artificial intelligence and machine automation on productivity. It focuses on analyzing the production model of machinery automation based on Petri nets. Through the invariant analysis method, the article constructs a model and presents its structure as a correlation matrix. The study results show that the model has an error rate of only 2.26% and an accuracy of 90.14% in terms of operational performance. Regarding time performance, its training time is 3854 seconds and response time is 351 milliseconds, which are better than other algorithms. In the practical application of automotive parts production, the method significantly reduces the busy probability and blocking probability during order processing and material delivery, and also improves the equipment load rate, waiting rate and blocking rate in the production process. This indicates that the Petri net-based method of machine automation production has significant advantages in improving productivity and reducing costs.

Adaptation of Citizenship Fatigue Scale into Turkish Culture: The Study of Reliability and Validity

This study was conducted to adapt the "Citizenship Fatigue Scale," which was developed to measure the "Citizenship Fatigue" concept in Turkish culture. The adaptation study was conducted on two samples: academics and teachers. In this study, language, content, construct and criterion validity studies were conducted to determine the validity of the Citizenship Fatigue Scale. After the language validity of the scale was completed, data were collected from 330 teachers and 311 academics and analyses were performed. All analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS package programs. EFA, CFA and measurement invariance analysis by gender were conducted using the teachers’ data. The other sample group was academics working in public and private universities. With the data collected from this group, CFA and criterion-related validity were tested. The reliability study was carried out with an internal consistency coefficient and test-retest methods, and the scale was found to be reliable. As a result of the analyses, it can be said that the six-item unidimensional Citizenship Fatigue Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool and can be used to measure employees' citizenship fatigue in both academic and teacher samples.

Psychometric properties of the CEMA-A questionnaire: motives for lying.

Previous research on the motives for lying lacks factorial models that allow grouping of motives into specific categories. The objective of this study is to confirm the factorial structure of the questionnaire of motives for lying (CEMA-A). Participants were 1,722 adults residing in the Canary Islands (Spain) who completed the CEMA-A and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R). The four-dimensional structure of the questionnaire was confirmed (χ2 = 1460.97, df = 325, p = 0.001; CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.93; NFI = 0.93; NNFI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.05, CI = 0.051-0.057; SRMR = 0.04). The four factors of the CEMA-A were Intrapersonal Motivation-Emotionality, Interpersonal Motivation-Sociability, Egoism/Hardness Motivation, and Malicious Motivation, with an internal consistency between 0.79 and 0.91. Invariance analyses confirmed the equivalence of the instrument for men and women. The CEMA-A factors positively correlated with Neuroticism and Psychoticism, and negatively with Dissimulation. Extraversion was not related to any of the factors, and only displayed a low negative correlation with Intrapersonal Motivation-Emotionality. Analysis of variance showed that men scored higher in Egoism/Hardness and Malicious Motivation. The CEMA-A has proven capable of apprehending the motives for lying and has adequate psychometric criteria for use in various populations.

Dimensionality of Speech-Language Pathologists' Child-Directed Talk During School-Based Therapy With Primary-Grade Students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the measurement structure of the linguistic features of speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) talk during business-as-usual therapy sessions in the public schools and to test the longitudinal stability of a theorized dimensional structure consisting of quantity, grammatical complexity, and lexical complexity. Seventy-five SLPs' talk during therapy sessions with primary-grade students was automatically transcribed and coded for linguistic features from a corpus of 579 videotaped therapy session videos collected at the beginning, middle, and end of one school year with an approximately 12-week interval. We explored video characteristics and conducted descriptive statistics on eight linguistic indices of SLP talk to examine the variability in SLP talk between therapy sessions. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to explore the dimensional structure of SLP talk at each time point separately for the theorized three dimensions, and we conducted longitudinal measurement invariance analyses to test the stability of the three-factor structural model across the academic year. There were considerable variabilities among SLPs in the characteristics of SLP talk during therapy sessions. The proposed three-factor structure of SLP talk consisting of quantity, grammatical complexity, and lexical complexity had good model fit at all three time points. The linguistic measurement properties representing the three factors were invariant over time. Results provided robust evidence of between-SLP variability in their child-directed talk, established a three-dimensional structure of the linguistic features in SLP talk, and identified that the linguistic features in SLP talk stably measured the same constructs across one school year, based on measurement invariance. The dimensions of SLP talk during therapy with students may represent important, malleable features of therapy that influence child language gains.

The Russian version of the Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale: psychometric properties in adolescents aged 13-16 years.

This study is the first to assess the internal consistency and factor validity of the Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) in a sample of Russian adolescents as well as gender differences and gender invariance. The study included 4,218 adolescents in grades 7-9 (M = 14.23, SD = 0.92). Internal consistency, measured with Cronbach's alpha, was high. Analysis of the factor structure revealed the best correspondence of the second-order factor model, which included two scales (learning math anxiety and math evaluation anxiety) and the general scale of math anxiety. There were greater gender differences in the all three scales. Analysis of gender invariance demonstrated that the mathematics anxiety construct was uniform in boys and girls. These findings confirm the reliable psychometric properties and validity of the AMAS, enabling its use in adolescents.

Examining Rates of Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Autistic Adults.

Autistic adults experience high rates of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, less is known about how autistic adults experience (i.e., by directly experiencing, witnessing, and/or learning about) distinct types of traumatic events (e.g., social, nonsocial traumas). Little research has considered whether the four-factor structure of PTSD symptom domains (e.g., avoidance, intrusions, hypervigilance, negative mood/cognition) can be applied for autistic adults. Lastly, understanding how demographic factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity) relate to rates of traumatic events and symptoms among autistic adults is critical for understanding disparities relating to PTSD. Therefore, the current study aims to examine self-reported traumatic events and PTSD symptoms, and identify associations with demographic factors, among autistic adults. Participants included 276 autistic adults and a nationally representative sample of 361 nonautistic adults who completed online measures, including the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Short, and Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Analyses focused on evaluating group differences in traumatic events and symptoms and considered associations with demographic factors. Autistic adults reported significantly higher rates of directly experiencing, witnessing, and learning about traumatic events than nonautistic adults, including more interpersonal events (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault) and fewer transportation accidents than nonautistic adults. Autistic adults also reported significantly higher levels of all PTSD symptom clusters than nonautistic adults. A confirmatory factor analysis and follow-up invariance analyses of the PCL-5 revealed that the four-factor Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) PTSD symptom subscale structure was equivalent across groups of autistic and nonautistic adults. Autistic adults experienced more traumatic events and PTSD symptoms overall, particularly more interpersonal traumas and hyperarousal and negative mood/cognition symptoms than nonautistic adults. Future research should examine outcomes of trauma exposure, identify protective factors, and examine efficacy of trauma-focused treatments for autistic individuals, in partnership with autistic adults.

Invariance Analysis and Closed-form Solutions for The Beam Equation in Timoshenko Model

Our research focuses on a fourth-order partial differential equation (PDE) that arises from the Timoshenko model for beams. This PDE pertains to situations where the elastic moduli remain constant and an external load, represented as F, is applied. We thoroughly analyze Lie symmetries and categorize the various types of applied forces. Initially, the principal Lie algebra is two-dimensional, but in certain noteworthy cases, it extends to three dimensions or even more. For each specific case, we derive the optimal system, which serves as a foundation for symmetry reductions, transforming the original PDE into ordinary differential equations. In certain instances, we successfully identify exact solutions using this reduction process. Additionally, we delve into the conservation laws using a direct method proposed by Anco, with a particular focus on specific classes within the equation. The findings we have presented in our study are indeed original and innovative. This study serves as compelling evidence for the robustness and efficacy of the Lie symmetry method, showcasing its ability to provide valuable insights and solutions in the realm of mathematical analysis.

An inventory of human light exposure behaviour

Light exposure is an essential driver of health and well-being, and individual behaviours during rest and activity modulate physiologically relevant aspects of light exposure. Further understanding the behaviours that influence individual photic exposure patterns may provide insight into the volitional contributions to the physiological effects of light and guide behavioural points of intervention. Here, we present a novel, self-reported and psychometrically validated inventory to capture light exposure-related behaviour, the Light Exposure Behaviour Assessment (LEBA). An expert panel prepared the initial 48-item pool spanning different light exposure-related behaviours. Responses, consisting of rating the frequency of engaging in the per-item behaviour on a five-point Likert-type scale, were collected in an online survey yielding responses from a geographically unconstrained sample (690 completed responses, 74 countries, 28 time zones). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on an initial subsample (n = 428) rendered a five-factor solution with 25 items (wearing blue light filters, spending time outdoors, using a phone and smartwatch in bed, using light before bedtime, using light in the morning and during daytime). In a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) performed on an independent subset of participants (n = 262), we removed two additional items to attain the best fit for the five-factor solution (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06). The internal consistency reliability coefficient for the total instrument yielded McDonald’s Omega = 0.68. Measurement model invariance analysis between native and non-native English speakers showed our model attained the highest level of invariance (residual invariance CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.05). Lastly, a short form of the LEBA (n = 18 items) was developed using Item Response Theory on the complete sample (n = 690). The psychometric properties of the LEBA indicate the usability for measuring light exposure-related behaviours. The instrument may offer a scalable solution to characterise behaviours that influence individual photic exposure patterns in remote samples. The LEBA inventory is available under the open-access CC-BY license. Instrument webpage: https://leba-instrument.org/ GitHub repository containing this manuscript: https://github.com/leba-instrument/leba-manuscript.

Romantic jealousy: a transcultural comparison between the United States, Colombia, and Mexico

Romantic jealousy, a complex and universal emotion found across cultures, is influenced by societal norms and stems from the actual or threatened loss of one’s partner to a rival. This study aimed to determine the transcultural equivalence of the Interpersonal Jealousy Scale across the United States, Colombia, and Mexico, and subsequently compare levels then to make comparisons of romantic jealousy. The research involved a total sample of 1,127 university students aged 18 to 23. Progressive factorial invariance analysis revealed a high degree of invariance for the 18-item unidimensional scale in all three countries. Asymmetry, kurtosis, and corrected total item correlation and reliability are also optimal. Significant differences were found between the total scores of the three countries, with Latin American countries being more similar to the US. Gender did not show a significant effect. The study identified that scenarios involving partner collaboration, receiving compliments, or shared interests with others resulted in lower jealousy levels. Conversely, situations related to reconnecting with old friends and possessiveness yielded varying responses, with the USA consistently displaying higher scores. The implications of these findings for future research are thoroughly discussed.