Investigating the Factorial Invariance of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory Across Gender, Age, and Education Groups Through Exploratory Structure Equation Modeling

• In Event: Response Styles and Measurement Invariance in Factor Modeling

Abstract

This study is a methodological-substantial synergy, demonstrating the power and flexibility of exploratory structure equation modeling (ESEM) methods, as applied to substantively significant questions based on NEO-FFI. Three 13-model taxonomies of ESEM measurement invariance are proposed to test the invariance over gender, age and education groups. Results showed: (i) The measurement invariances of CUs, factor loadings, partial intercepts, uniquenesses, factor variance-covariance over gender, age and education are supported; (ii) factor means analysis showed us that there is some difference between different groups.

Authors

• Huan Liu, Beijing Normal University

• Hongyun Liu, Beijing Normal University

• Nan Chen, Beijing Normal University