Scale Development

Learning Objectives

By the end of the scale development block, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the conceptual foundations of latent variable modelling, including the differences between EFA, CFA, and measurement invariance.

  2. Assess the suitability of data and research questions for factor analytic approaches.

  3. Conduct and interpret EFA, CFA, and measurement invariance analyses using the statistical software, R.

  4. Critically evaluate the adequacy of measurement models in relation to statistical evidence and theoretical expectations.

  5. Report factor analytic results clearly and transparently, justifying analytic decisions and linking statistical findings to substantive conclusions.

Structure

The scale development block runs from Week 7 to Week 9 and will focus on how to understand and conduct some of the core analyses required for scale development:

  • Week 7 — Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) — what scale structure does my data suggest?

  • Week 8 — Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) — does my hypothesised structure actually fit the data when tested?

  • Week 9 — Measurement Invariance — can I meaningfully compare this scale across groups?

Course Materials

Similar to previous blocks, each week will follow the same general format: lecture → code walkthrough → worksheet.

The tutorials have been designed to be comprehensive — more like a textbook reading.

There is core content which we will cover in the workshop, plus optional supplementary materials in expandable “callouts” for those that want more.

It is not necessary for you to read through these notes or complete any exercises in advance of the session.

It is also not necessary for you to complete any readings at any point — they are supplementary.

Readings

  • You will find a couple of (further) reading suggestions on the Reading List each week

  • If you’re interested, Eiko Fried and Jessica Flake (Measurement Schmeasurement authors) developed a comprehensive reading list for a range of measurement topics in 2019:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11jyoXtO0m2lUywpC04KjLvI5QcBUY4YtwEvw6cg2cMs