A checklist for testing measurement invariance

Abstract

The analysis of measurement invariance of latent constructs is important in research across groups, or across time. By establishing whether factor loadings, intercepts and residual variances are equivalent in a factor model that measures a latent concept, we can assure that comparisons that are made on the latent variable are valid across groups or time. Establishing measurement invariance involves running a set of increasingly constrained structural equation models, and testing whether differences between these models are significant. This paper provides a step-by-step guide to analysing measurement invariance.

Keywords:

• Confirmatory factor analysis
• Validity
• Measurement invariance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rens van de Schoot

  The first author received a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research: NWO-VENI-451-11-008.   With many thanks to Marie Stievenart, Stefanos Mastrotheodoros, Leonard Vanbrabant and Esmee Verhulp for proofreading the manuscript.