Item Parcels Research Articles

The effectiveness of item parceling to increase the model fit: A case study of PAPs

The impact of item parceling to improve model fit indexes in confirmatory factor analysis has been on debate amongst psychometricians. In this study, the effectiveness of item parceling was examined using Tes Potensi Akademik Pascasarjana (PAPS) or Postgraduate Academic Potential Test in Universitas Gadjah Mada. Item parceling approach, second-order approach, and item-based approach of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for examination. Data were collected from a sample of 1374 postgraduate candidates in 2017. The result found that model fit indices such as the chi-squared test, comparative fit index, Tucker-Lewis index, and standardized root mean square residual were improved in the item parceling approach when compared to item based approach. Interestingly, the root mean square error of approximation were deteriorating in the item parceling approach. The finding of this study suggested that model dimensionality and sample size should be carefully considered when using the item parceling approach.

The Effect of Social Capital and Organizational Health on Competitive Advantages of Culinary and Craft SMEs in Samarinda City

Samarinda City was appointed as a buffer for the new capital city of Indonesia through culinary and craft SMEs. Culinary and craft SMEs are believed to be the drivers in accelerating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which are part of the strategy of the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan. Even so, 72% of the problems culinary and craft SMEs face in Samarinda City are related to competitive advantages. Culinary and craft SMEs in Samarinda City are still constrained by competitive disadvantage, especially in the non-substitutable resource aspect. This study aimed to analyze the effect of organizational capital and health on competitive advantage, especially in the era of post-COVID-19 economic recovery through the creative economy. This study used a survey method with a quantitative approach. The analysis techniques used were descriptive analysis and factor analysis using structural equation modeling with item parceling. The subjects of this study were SMEs in the culinary and craft sub-sector in Samarinda City (N = 365 SMEs). This study found that social capital and organizational health positively and significantly affect competitive advantage, both partially and simultaneously. Surprisingly, the dimension of work culture and climate s not suitable for modeling the impact of social capital and organizational health on the competitive advantage of culinary and craft SMEs in Samarinda City. This research is expected to contribute theoretically to developing a new model to achieve optimal competitive advantage through social capital and health organizations. This research is expected to strengthen the people’s economy to achieve SDGs through SMEs, especially for Samarinda City, a buffer for the new capital city of the Republic of Indonesia and post-COVID-19 economic recovery through the creative economy.

부모와 초등학생의 자아존중감, 스마트폰 의존도, 공격성, 삶의 만족도 간 구조적 관계

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify the actor and partner effects of parent-child's self-esteem on smartphone dependency, and to examine the structural relationships among parent-child's self-esteem, smartphone dependency with child’s aggression and life satisfaction. Methods The data on a total of 2,072 pairs of a child(4th-6th grade in an elementary school) and their parents from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 was utilized as the research material and analysis was conducted based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model(APIM). Structural Equation Model(SEM) with ML and item parceling was also conducted to examine the difference in the path coefficients between the gender through multigroup path analysis. Results Results were as follows. First, self-esteem had a negative actor effect on smartphone dependency for both the parents and the child. Also, self-esteem was shown to have the parents' partner effect on smartphone dependency, but the child's partner effect was not found. Second, both the parents and the child’s self-esteem also had a negative effect on child’s aggression while smartphone dependency had a positive effect on child’s aggression. Child’s self-esteem was shown to have a positive effect on his life satisfaction, but the parents’ self-esteem was not verified its effect. In addition, both parents and child's smartphone dependency and child’s aggression mediated the effect parent-child's self-esteem had on child’s life satisfaction. Third, no significant gender differences were verified. Conclusions This study suggests that parents’ self-esteem and smartphone dependency will be used as key components of child’s life satisfaction as well as the its relevance relationships among child’s self-esteem, smartphone dependency and aggression.

Understanding Drivers of Vaccine Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults in Jiangsu Province, China: Cross-sectional Survey.

Older adults are particularly at risk from infectious diseases, including serve complications, hospitalization, and death. This study aimed to explore the drivers of vaccine hesitancy among older adults based on the "3Cs" (confidence, complacency, and convenience) framework, where socioeconomic status and vaccination history played the role of moderators. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Jiangsu Province, China, between June 1 and July 20, 2021. Older adults (aged ≥60 years) were recruited using a stratified sampling method. Vaccine hesitancy was influenced by the 3Cs in the model. Socioeconomic status and vaccination history processed through the item parceling method were used to moderate associations between the 3Cs and hesitancy. Hierarchical regression analyses and structural equation modeling were used to test the validity of the new framework. We performed 5000 trials of bootstrapping to calculate the 95% CI of the pathway's coefficients. A total of 1341 older adults participated. The mean age was 71.3 (SD 5.4) years, and 44.7% (599/1341) of participants were men. Confidence (b=0.967; 95% CI 0.759-1.201; P=.002), convenience (b=0.458; 95% CI 0.333-0.590; P=.002), and less complacency (b=0.301; 95% CI 0.187-0.408; P=.002) were positively associated with less vaccine hesitancy. Socioeconomic status weakened the positive effect of low complacency (b=-0.065; P=.03) on low vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccination history negatively moderated the positive association between confidence (b=-0.071; P=.02) and lower vaccine hesitancy. Our study identified that confidence was the more influential dimension in reducing vaccine hesitancy among older adults. COVID-19 vaccination history, as well as confidence, had a positive association with less vaccine hesitancy and could weaken the role of confidence in vaccine hesitancy. Socioeconomic status had a substitution relationship with less complacency, which suggested a competitive positive association between them on less vaccine hesitancy.

우울과 심리적 안녕감의 관계

Objectives To explore the path through which depression contribute to the decrease in psychological well-being, this study examined the validity of a path model that depression leads to psychological well-being through experiential avoidance, nonacceptance of positive emotion, prioritizing of positivity. Methods Depression, avoidance of experience, nonacceptance of positive emotions, prioritizing of positivity, and psychological well-being were measured for 366 undergraduate students. The correlation between variables was analyzed. After item parcel, model fit and significance of paths between latent variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results First, there was no significant correlation between experiential avoidance and prioritizing of positivity, but there were significant correlations between depression, experiential avoidance, nonacceptance of positive emotion, prioritizing of positivity, and psychological well-being. Second, the indirect pathways from depression to experiential avoidance, nonacceptance of positive emotion, prioritizing of positivity, and psychological well-being were found to be significant. Conclusions These results suggest that acceptance of positive emotions and pursuit of positive experiences are necessary to prevent a decrease in psychological well-being due to depression. Finally, the implications and suggestions of this study are discussed.

Development of a scale for parent-to-baby emotions: Concepts, design, and factor structure.

Although infant crying is a prerequisite for a baby's survival, it often leads to negative consequences for the caregivers. We hypothesized that this would be mediated by a primary emotion that we feel directly in response to an internal or external event. Hence, this study aimed to develop a new scale to measure basic and self-conscious emotions as primary emotions towards an infant's cry. We conducted a cross-sectional web survey including the scale for parent-to-baby emotions (SPBE)-with 73 items elicited from a literature review-targeted at mothers at 1 month after childbirth (N = 879). A series of explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using item parcels. Internal consistency of the scale was calculated by omega indices. We also examined measurement invariance of the scale. The theory-driven six basic emotions bifactor model (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.968, root mean square of error approximation [RMSEA] = 0.070) and four self-conscious emotions factor model (CFI = 0.973, RMSEA = 0.079) were judged as the best models. They were stable in terms of configural, measurement, and structural invariances across parity. The SPBE we created is a psychometrically robust measure to assess the primary emotions under the rubric of parent-to-baby emotions. It is a promising tool for measuring parent-to-baby emotions in clinical and research settings.

Associations of Musical Activities and Positive Affect With Fear of Childbirth: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

BackgroundFear of childbirth is a prevalent issue among women, with a wide range of interventions to dispel it. Here we explored a novel and beneficial intervention and one possible influence mechanism of it.MethodsThe cross-sectional study recruited 1,053 pregnant women from one tertiary-grade A class hospital between March to August 2021. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, a self-made musical activities questionnaire, the Positive affect subscale, and the Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire. We parceled the eight musical activities into three items by item parceling methodology. The associations of musical activities and positive affect with fear of childbirth were evaluated by a structural equation modeling approach.ResultsOur analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of musical activities, which was notably correlated with the increase in positive affect (β = 0.309, P < 0.01). On the contrary, positive affect predicted a decrease in fear of childbirth (β = −0.085, P = 0.019). Additionally, positive affect mediated the effect of musical activities on fear of childbirth (β = −0.026, P = 0.030). However, the direct effect of musical activities on fear of childbirth was not found (β = 0.029, P = 0.514).ConclusionsRelying on musical activities alone may not be adequate to alleviate the fear of childbirth, and positive affect played a pivotal role between musical activities and fear of childbirth. The results showed that musical activities would be an effective non-pharmaceutical way to alleviate the fear of childbirth and positive affect can not be ignorant in future childbirth fear reduction programs.

Examining factorial validity of the student–teacher relationship scale in the Iranian educational setting

The Student–Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) is widely used to evaluate the quality of student–teacher relationships in terms of Closeness, Conflict, and Dependency. The main purpose of this study was to examine factorial validity of the adapted-STRS proposed by Koomen et al. (2012) in the Iranian educational setting. Another purpose was to examine correlations of the Dependency scale with the Closeness and Conflict scales of the adapted-STRS, when applied in a non-western sociocultural context. Results of confirmatory factor analysis, using an item parceling approach, provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the adapted-STRS with scales indicating satisfactory internal consistency. Additionally, the Dependency scale was positively correlated with Closeness but not with Conflict in the Iranian context. These findings call for further examination of sociocultural influences on the nature and interpretation of dependent student–teacher relationships.

Mixed Effects of Item Parceling on Performance of Factor Mixture Modeling

ABSTRACT Factor mixture modeling (FMM) is generally complex with both unobserved categorical and unobserved continuous variables. We explore the potential of item parceling to reduce the model complexity of FMM and improve convergence and class enumeration accordingly. To this end, we conduct Monte Carlo simulations with three types of data, continuous, polytomous, and binary under two levels of model complexity, constrained FMM under strict invariance and relaxed FMM under scalar or metric invariance. The results show that item parceling could be advantageous for FMM with binary items but not with continuous or polytomous items.

The Impact of Item Parceling on Structural Parameter Invariance in Multi-group Structural Equation Modeling

ABSTRACT Item parcels are the indicators of a factor which are created by summing or averaging scores of individual items. Item parceling has been widely applied in structural equation modeling (SEM) but has been less discussed in the multi-group context, especially for structural parameter invariance. The present study investigated the effect of item parceling on parameter bias and invariance tests at the structural level (i.e., latent means and a structural path) in multi-group SEM using a Monte Carlo simulation study. The results show that under a correctly specified measurement invariance model, indicator type would not introduce bias in structural parameter estimates. The estimation and statistical decision would depend on the assumption for measurement (non-)invariance and testing method, rather than the indicator type. When falsely assuming measurement invariance, latent mean or structural path differences are likely to be biased and to conclude incorrect statistical decisions in testing.

On the Use of Balanced Item Parceling to Counter Acquiescence Bias in Structural Equation Models

We propose the use of balanced item parcels to account for method effects caused by acquiescent responding. The use of balanced parcels avoids the need to model method effects explicitly and results in a parsimonious specification of measurement and full structural equation models in the presence of unwanted method effects, particularly when a scale consists of a relatively large number of items. Balanced item parcels are sums or averages of individual items consisting of an equal number of regular and reversed items measuring the same construct. When regular and reversed items are combined into parcels, method effects cancel out (assuming that the method effects affecting the regular and reversed items in a parcel are equal in magnitude), and model fit and parameter estimates will no longer be negatively affected by acquiescent responding. We discuss why balanced item parceling works and when it is likely to prove beneficial, and we present a step-by-step procedure explaining how to use balanced item parceling in practice. We also report a brief hypothetical example to illustrate the proposed approach.

The Impact of Item Parceling Ratios and Strategies on the Internal Structure of Assessment Center Ratings

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether using item parcels instead of single indicators would increase support for the factorial validity of assessment center (AC) ratings in factor analytic applications. Factor analytic analyses of AC ratings are often plagued by poor model fit as well as admissibility and termination problems. In the present study, three purposive item parceling strategies, in conjunction with three parceling approaches (specifying different ratios of indicators to dimensions), were investigated in relation to five confirmatory factor analysis specifications of AC ratings across two AC samples (Sample 1: N = 244; Sample 2: N = 320). The findings were equivocal across the two samples. Nonetheless, a three-parcel approach using a factorial allocation strategy performed better that a one-parcel approach (akin to the postexercise dimension rating).

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL (SEM)

Structural Equation Model (SEM) is a multivariate statistical technique that has been explored to test relationships between variables. The use of SEM to analyze relationship between variables is premised on the weak assumption of path analysis, regression analysis and so on; that variables are measured without error. This review thus sheds light on the meaning of SEM, its assumptions, steps and some of the terms used in SEM. The importance of item parcelling to SEM and its methods were briefly examined. It also dealt on the stages involved in SEM, similarities and differences between SEM and conventional statistical methods, software packages that can be used for SEM. This article employed systematic literature review method because it critically synthesized research studies and findings on structural equation modeling (SEM). It could be concluded that SEM is useful in analyzing a set of relationships between variables using diagrams. SEM can also be useful in minimizing measurement errors and in enhancing reliability of constructs. Based on this, it is recommended that SEM should be employed to test relationship between variables since it can explore complex relationships among variables such as direct, indirect, spurious, hierarchical and non-hierarchical.

Factor structure of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire: Configural invariance and measurement invariance across postpartum time periods

BackgroundDespite the research and clinical significance of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), its psychometric properties have not been studied intensively. The goodness-of-fit of proposed factor models of the PBQ is poor. Configural and measurement invariance have never been reported. MethodsAs a secondary analysis of the previous paper (Ohashi et al., 2016), we analysed the PBQ data at 5 days and 1 month after childbirth among 247 mothers of a singleton. We created 9 parcels of PBQ items to perform confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We also examined configural and measurement invariances of the PBQ factor structure between the two observation times. ResultsThe CFI of the 3-factor model of the PBQ was .936 and .968 for 5 days and 1 month after childbirth, respectively. Configural, measurement (metric, scalar, and residual), and structural (factor variance and factor covariance) invariances were accepted. The mean of only ‘anger and restrictedness’ factor was scored higher at 1 month than 5 days after childbirth. ConclusionThe 3-factor model of the PBQ was good in its fit with the data as well as robust in its measurement between the two observation time periods.

The use of items and item parcels in nonlinear structural equation models

Nonlinear structural equation models within the frequentist framework were developed to work with continuous items. Applied researchers who usually work with Likert-type items choose between two strategies to estimate such models: treat items as continuous variables or create item parcels. Two Monte Carlo studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of each strategy on estimates and Type I errors for models with interaction and quadratic effects estimated using LMS. The first study evaluated the effect of asymmetry type and item quantity. The second assessed the use of item parcels and parcel configuration under equivalent conditions. Results reveal that treating items as continuous variables is not problematic when item categories are symmetrical or have opposite-direction asymmetries; however, meaningful parameter bias and increased Type I errors are produced in the case of same-direction asymmetry. Use of parcels does not overcome these problems. The results are discussed to provide recommendations for applied researchers.

How Different Indicator-Dimension Ratios in Assessment Center Ratings Affect Evidence for Dimension Factors.

Previous research on the construct validity of assessment center (AC) ratings has usually struggled to find support for dimension factors as an underlying source of variance of these ratings. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) remains the most widely used method to specify and validate the internal structure of AC ratings. However, the research support for dimension effects in AC ratings remains mixed. In addition, competing CFA models (e.g., correlated dimensions-correlated exercises models) are often plagued by non-convergence and estimation problems. Recently, it has been proposed that increasing the number of indicators per dimension and exercise combination might help to find support for dimension factors, in addition to exercise factors, in CFAs of AC ratings. Furthermore, it was also suggested that the increased ratio of indicators to dimensions may also solve some of the methodological problems associated with CFA models used to model AC ratings. However, in this research it remained unclear whether the support for dimension factors was solely due to the use of a larger indicator-dimension ratio or due to parceling that combines several behavioral indicators per dimension and exercise combination into more reliable measures of the targeted dimension. These are important empirical questions that have been left unanswered in the literature but can be potentially meaningful in seeking more balanced support for dimension effects in AC research. Using data from N = 213 participants from a 1-day AC, we aimed to investigate the impact of using different indicator-dimension ratios when specifying CFA models of AC ratings. Therefore, we investigated the impact of using different indicator-dimension ratios in the form of item parcels with data from an operational AC. On average, using three parcels eventually led to support for dimension factors in CFAs. However, exercise-based CFA models still performed better than dimension-based models. Thus, the present results point out potential limits concerning the generalizability of recent results that provided support for dimension factors in ACs.

Factor analysis in psychological assessment research: Common pitfalls and recommendations.

This article provides a summary and discussion of major challenges and pitfalls in factor analysis as observed in psychological assessment research, as well as our recommendations within each of these areas. More specifically, we discuss a need to be more careful about item distribution properties in light of their potential impact on model estimation as well as providing a very strong caution against item parceling in the evaluation of psychological test instruments. Moreover, we consider the important issue of estimation, with a particular emphasis on selecting the most appropriate estimator to match the scaling properties of test item indicators. Next, we turn our attention to the issues of model fit and comparison of alternative models with the strong recommendation to allow for theoretical guidance rather than being overly influenced by model fit indices. In addition, since most models in psychological assessment research involve multidimensional items that often do not map neatly onto a priori confirmatory models, we provide recommendations about model respecification. Finally, we end our article with a discussion of alternative forms of model specification that have become particularly popular recently: exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor modeling. We discuss various important areas of consideration for the applied use of these model specifications, with a conclusion that, whereas ESEM models can offer a useful avenue for the evaluation of internal structure of test items, researchers should be very careful about using bifactor models for this purpose. Instead, we highlight other, more appropriate applications of such models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Data Harmonization: Establishing Measurement Invariance across Different Assessments of the Same Construct across Adolescence

Longitudinal measurement invariance is a major concern for developmental scholars who seek to evaluate the same underlying construct across time. Unfortunately, discontinuities in the expression of various psychological constructs, as well as essential changes in measurement that are necessitated by shifting developmental capacities and practice effects over time, make the task of establishing longitudinal invariance extremely difficult. Drawing on 5 waves of longitudinal data from 392 families (52% female; Mage_W1 = 12.89, SD = .48; Mage_W5 = 21.95, SD = .77; 199 European American and 193 Mexican American families), the current investigation sought to establish measurement invariance across developmentally appropriate changes in measures of depressive symptomatology from early adolescence through early adulthood. Using a combination of item parceling and the common and unique items from 2 assessment instruments for depressive symptoms, the data supported strong factorial invariance in youth’s depressive symptoms across 5 waves of measurement. Findings suggest that traditional invariance approaches can be adapted to determine whether the same construct underlies different measurement instruments across time. This analytic strategy can allow researchers and clinicians to use more sophisticated techniques to understand changes in symptomatology regardless of changes in measurement or developmental capacity. Applying this approach to model patterns of depressive symptomatology from early adolescence to early adulthood has important clinical implications for elucidating periods when youth experience elevations in depressive symptoms and heightened needs for intervention services.

Testing Destination Image Scale Invariance Among British, German and Russian Tourists: A Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Researchers agree that destination image is a multi-dimensional and complex structure of attitude. Social psychology suggests that attitudes are composed of affective, cognitive, and conative components. This study contributes to literature with (i) scale development integrating 3 explanatory dimensions of destination image; (ii) utilization of item parceling technique enabling extended depth with sub scales and (iii) by providing supporting evidence with multigroup confirmatory factor analysis that this measurement scale is invariant thus applicable for 3 nationalities namely British, German and Russian tourist. This empirical study provides clarity to number and definition of dimensions with an integrated scale invariant for three nationalities. The survey is carried in summer 2017 at Antalya Airport with a total of 1495 British, German and Russian respondents visiting Antalya region for holiday purposes.

Validation of the trust relationship audit (TRA): An item parcelling approach

This study sought to apply an item parcelling approach to confirm the factor structure of trust in the direct supervisor as measured by the trust relationship audit (TRA). The researchers analysed an existing data set on the TRA from 9 060 South African employees. For the analysis, the researchers utilised structural equation modelling, using item parcelling to confirm the factor structure. The results confirm that, in essence, the large sample structural model replicates the original small sample model, consisting of separate personality and managerial practices factors as antecedents of trust in supervisors. Two items measuring personality traits loaded differently in the small and the combined sample. The results suggest item parcelling to be a value-add in measure validation when data mining.