Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

Explaining Measurement Nonequivalence Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling: The Case of Attitudes Toward Citizenship Rights

Davidov, Eldad; Dülmer, Hermann; Cieciuch, Jan; Kuntz, Anabel; Seddig, Daniel; Schmidt, Peter (2018). Explaining Measurement Nonequivalence Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling: The Case of Attitudes Toward Citizenship Rights. Sociological Methods & Research, 47(4):729-760.

Abstract

It is necessary to test for equivalence of measurements across groups to guarantee that comparisons of regression coefficients or mean scores of a latent factor are meaningful. Unfortunately, when tested, many scales display non-equivalence. Several researchers have suggested that non-equivalence may be used as a useful source of information as to why equivalence is biased and proposed employing a multilevel structural equation modeling (MLSEM) approach to explain why equivalence is not given. This method can consider a latent between-level factor and/or single contextual variables and use them to explain items’ non-equivalence. In the current study we show that this method may also be useful for social science studies in general and for survey research and sociological comparative studies in particular when one fails to establish cross-group equivalence. We utilize data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) national identity module (2003) to test for the cross-country equivalence of a scale measuring attitudes toward granting citizenship rights to immigrants. As expected, the scale fails to achieve scalar equivalence. However, we explain a significant part of the most non-equivalent intercept by a latent between-level factor and one contextual variable, namely, the percentage of foreigners in the country relying on group threat theory. We show that the method does not necessarily rectify non-equivalence but it can help to explain why it is absent.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:03 Faculty of Economics > Department of Business Administration
06 Faculty of Arts > Institute of Sociology
08 Research Priority Programs > Social Networks
Dewey Decimal Classification:300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology
Scopus Subject Areas:Social Sciences & Humanities > Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Social Sciences & Humanities > Sociology and Political Science
Uncontrolled Keywords:measurement equivalence, multilevel structural equation modeling, ISSP, percentage of foreigners in the country, attitudes toward granting citizenship rights to immigrants
Scope:Discipline-based scholarship (basic research)
Language:English
Date:1 November 2018
Deposited On:28 Oct 2016 06:29
Last Modified:15 Oct 2024 01:42
Publisher:Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:0049-1241
Funders:UFSP Soziale Netzwerke
OA Status:Green
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124116672678
Other Identification Number:merlin-id:14238
Download PDF  'Explaining Measurement Nonequivalence Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling: The Case of Attitudes Toward Citizenship Rights'.
Preview
  • Content: Accepted Version
  • Language: English
Download PDF  'Explaining Measurement Nonequivalence Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling: The Case of Attitudes Toward Citizenship Rights'.
Preview
  • Content: Published Version

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
25 citations in Web of Science®
34 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Downloads

555 downloads since deposited on 28 Oct 2016
42 downloads since 12 months
Detailed statistics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications