Measurement Invariance of the Curiosity Scale Across School Types in South America: PISA 2022 Evidence.

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  In Roundtable Session: Rethinking Constructs and Measurement: Insights from Empirical Evidence

Abstract

This study examines measurement invariance of the Curiosity (CURIOAGR) scale across public and private school students in seven South American countries using PISA 2022 data. Confirmatory factor analysis identified two poorly performing items, which were removed. The revised 8-item scale showed acceptable fit and supported configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance through multiple-group CFA. Changes in fit indices met Chen’s (2007) criteria, confirming invariance. These findings indicate that the refined scale measures curiosity equivalently across school types, enabling valid cross-group comparisons. The results highlight the importance of culturally sensitive assessment tools and advance understanding of curiosity in diverse educational contexts.

Author

• Solange Barros, University of Kansas