Examining the Invariance of a Measurement Model by Using the Covariance Structure Approach

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study is to examine the measurement invariance of the structural equating model constructed on the numerical and verbal abilities test for sixth grade students across gender, amount of weekly pocket money and students’ perceptions of the sufficiency of their pocket money. The secondary aim is to illustrate the use of the IBM AMOS-24 software package step by step with examples to address invariance using the covariance structural analysis approach. The research data were collected from 2304 sixth grade students enrolled in public schools within the Keçiören and Pursaklar suburbs in Ankara. The covariance structures analysis approach was employed during the examination of the measurement model invariance. The study revealed that invariance was achieved in terms of configural, measurement (in both measurement weights and measurement residuals) and structural invariance with respect to all subgroups.

Keywords

• ability
• configural invariance
• measurement invariance
• structural invariance
• structural equation modeling