Measurement invariance in the social sciences: Historical development, methodological challenges, state of the art, and future perspectives

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Heinz Leitgöb - , Leipzig University, Goethe University Frankfurt a.M. (Author)
  • Daniel Seddig - , University of Cologne, University of Münster (Author)
  • Tihomir Asparouhov - , Mplus, USA (Author)
  • Dorothée Behr - , Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences (Author)
  • Eldad Davidov - , University of Cologne, University of Zurich (Author)
  • Kim De Roover - , Tilburg University, KU Leuven (Author)
  • Suzanne Jak - , Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC) (Author)
  • Katharina Meitinger - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • Natalja Menold - , Chair of Methods in Empirical Social Research (Author)
  • Bengt Muthén - , University of California at Los Angeles, Mplus, USA (Author)
  • Maksim Rudnev - , University of Waterloo (Author)
  • Peter Schmidt - , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Rens van de Schoot - , Utrecht University (Author)

Abstract

This review summarizes the current state of the art of statistical and (survey) methodological research on measurement (non)invariance, which is considered a core challenge for the comparative social sciences. After outlining the historical roots, conceptual details, and standard procedures for measurement invariance testing, the paper focuses in particular on the statistical developments that have been achieved in the last 10 years. These include Bayesian approximate measurement invariance, the alignment method, measurement invariance testing within the multilevel modeling framework, mixture multigroup factor analysis, the measurement invariance explorer, and the response shift-true change decomposition approach. Furthermore, the contribution of survey methodological research to the construction of invariant measurement instruments is explicitly addressed and highlighted, including the issues of design decisions, pretesting, scale adoption, and translation. The paper ends with an outlook on future research perspectives.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number102805
JournalSocial science research : a quarterly journal of social science methodology and quantitative research
Volume110
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85140981140
ORCID /0000-0003-1106-474X/work/194256565

Keywords

Keywords

  • Bayes Theorem, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Humans, Research Design, Social Sciences, Surveys and Questionnaires