The Meaning of Higher-Order Factors in Reflective-Measurement Models

Autor/inn/en	Eid, Michael; Koch, Tobias
Titel	The Meaning of Higher-Order Factors in Reflective-Measurement Models
Quelle	In: Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives, 12 (2014) 3, S.96-101 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1536-6367
DOI	10.1080/15366367.2014.943591
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Factor Analysis; Measurement; Theories; Executive Function; Sampling; Cognitive Measurement + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Faktorenanalyse; Messverfahren; Theory; Theorie
Abstract	Higher-order factor analysis is a widely used approach for analyzing the structure of a multidimensional test. Whenever first-order factors are correlated researchers are tempted to apply a higher-order factor model. But is this reasonable? What do the higher-order factors measure? What is their meaning? Willoughby, Holochwost, Blanton, and Blair (this issue) discuss this important issue for the measurement of executive functions. They came to the conclusion that formative measurement structure might be more appropriate than a reflective measurement structure with higher-order factors. Willoughby et al. refer to 4 decision rules for selecting a measurement model presented by Jarvis, MacKenzie and Podsakoff (2003). In this article Michael Eid and Tobias Koch go a step further than the rules of Jarvis et al. by showing that stochastic measurement theory offers a clear and well-defined theoretical basis for defining a measurement model. In this commentary, Eid and Koch discuss how stochastic measurement theory can be used to identify conditions under which it is possible to define higher-order factors as random variables in a well-defined random experiment. In particular, they show that for defining second-order factors it is necessary to have a multilevel sampling process with respect to executive functions. They go on to argue that this random experiment has not been realized for the measurement of executive functions and that the assumption of second-order or even higher-order factors would not be reasonable for theoretical reasons. Finally, they discuss the implications of this reasoning for the measurement of executive functions and other areas of measurement. (ERIC).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10